Trade talks in two acts: Canada-U.S. poised to negotiate in stages

All signs point to Canada and the United States holding trade negotiations in two separate phases — with some now on immediate irritants, and the rest next year. The process is still taking shape. But the two-step idea is emerging in comments following this week’s meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump. The first phase? A fast-track push to ease tensions over tariffs and stabilize trade ties, anchored in the broader Canada-U.S. security relationship. This lets both sides sidestep the thornier formal review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which isn’t legally scheduled to start until next…