Carney says US eases trade demands, pulls culture and sovereignty off the table

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney says the United States has backed off some of its trade demands, according to a post from Cointelegraph. The issues now off the table include language, culture and sovereignty. That narrows the fight to the economic stuff — the parts a trade deal is actually built on.

It's a notable shift in tone between two of the world's most tightly wound trading partners. Carney framed the change as Washington softening its position, though he did not spell out what Washington asked for in the first place or which specific demands were dropped. Nor did he say what remains on the table.

The three items he named — language, culture and sovereignty — sit well outside the usual tariff-and-quota lane, which is what makes their removal notable. Talks between the two countries are ongoing.

There's no word yet on whether the eased demands move either side closer to a deal, or what the next round of talks will cover. Carney's comments are the latest signal that the negotiating ground is being redrawn.