Canada is in “intensive and live negotiations” on the metals tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump increased to 50 per cent first thing Wednesday, Mark Carney said in a statement, but they’re part of the broader talks on a new economic and security partnership. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc was in Washington Tuesday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a Parliament Hill scrum. (The Logic)

Talking point: The U.S. steel industry applauded the increase; the aluminum industry association didn’t say anything new but has repeatedly said Canadian aluminum is a boon to the U.S. sector. Tens of thousands of workers will be affected by the tariff hike within days, said Bea Bruske of the Canadian Labour Congress; she called for Canada to match the new U.S. tariffs. Alongside her in a news conference, Candace Laing of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce was less forceful but said governments need to act “decisively and urgently” in ways that minimize the effects on Canadians.