RismadarVoice Reporters, August 28, 2026
Canada has welcomed a reported shift in the United States’ position on measures aimed at promoting the French language and Canadian culture as trade tensions between the two countries continue.
Canada’s top trade negotiator with the United States, Dominic LeBlanc, said Ottawa welcomed the US position that issues concerning the “discoverability” and labelling of French-language content would not be subject to American tariffs.
LeBlanc said Canada was looking forward to further clarification from Washington, adding that such developments could create an opportunity for a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said French-language discoverability on streaming services was not an issue on which Washington intended to apply significant pressure or make a condition of negotiations.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also dismissed the dispute, saying the issue had been misrepresented and that the United States had not raised it as a trade demand.
The comments come amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa following the breakdown of recent negotiations.
Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of US goods, with duties ranging from 15 to 50 per cent and scheduled to take effect on September 8. The measures followed Washington’s announcement of 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously accused US officials of making threats concerning the French language and Canadian and Quebec culture.
Ottawa has since adjusted some of its retaliatory measures. Canada’s Department of Finance said tariffs on fish and other seafood products were removed following consultations with affected industries.
The trade dispute has also been accompanied by increasingly contentious political rhetoric. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” a move involving the lake shared by Ontario and New York.
Despite the tensions, both governments have continued to signal an interest in resolving their differences through negotiations.
The latest comments on French-language protections could remove one area of disagreement, although significant disputes over tariffs and broader trade arrangements remain unresolved.
