Prime Minister Mark Carney is directly involved in the negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump for a new trade and security deal in exchange for the lifting of all tariffs on Canadian goods — in particular the crippling levies on steel and aluminum.

Ottawa held its fire for a second day in a row Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled his steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent — despite numerous calls for Canada to swiftly retaliate with new tariffs of its own.