Key facts
- Dominic LeBlanc, the minister in charge of US trade ties, said the midterm results would not significantly affect Ottawa's focus.
- LeBlanc said he planned to speak to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer over the next few days.
- Trump said on Tuesday the United States was close to a trade deal with Canada.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney said work remained to be done and Washington had dropped some demands.
A senior Canadian cabinet minister said on November 4, 2026 that the US midterm results would not change Ottawa's stance toward trade talks with the United States, and that he would speak soon to his American counterparts.
Dominic LeBlanc, the minister in charge of US trade ties, told reporters that "to a certain extent last night's results are interesting, but they will not have any significant impact in terms of our government's focus and work." He said he planned to speak to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer over the next few days.
The comments followed midterm elections in which Democrats seized control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, blaming rising costs on the war with Iran and President Donald Trump's policy of imposing tariffs on goods from major trading partners such as Canada.
Trump said on Tuesday that the United States was close to making a trade deal with Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said work remained to be done and that Washington had dropped some demands.