The Department of Finance has yet to make a decision on 859 requests from businesses for relief from Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods—about 53 per cent of the total. (The Logic)

Talking point: The federal government launched counter-tariffs on a wide variety of U.S. goods after President Donald Trump slapped duties on Canadian imports last year. Ottawa has since repealed most of them. Businesses could apply for relief or refunds for reasons such as a lack of non-U.S. substitutes. In response to an order paper question on Wednesday, the department said that out of 1,611 requests received by April 2, it has approved 238 with a trade value of $5.6 billion. About 45 per cent from the steel industry. It denied another 150 worth $3.9 billion. Conservative MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman called the delays “extremely concerning,” especially since 364 requests were closed or withdrawn. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday he understands the urgency, but “we need to apply due process and a level of due diligence.”