White House tempers its tough talk on Canada trade as inflation tops voter concerns

The Trump administration’s combative approach to Canada appears to be softening slightly, just days before the midterm elections in the U.S., where tariff-fueled inflation is a primary concern for voters.

Trade talks with Washington have seen a “slight intensification” in recent days, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday.

President Donald Trump, likewise, seemed to back off some of his angrier rhetoric over the weekend, when he told reporters a potential trade deal with Canada would be “settled pretty soon.”