Canada to continue trade talks with Trump administration following US midterms: Official

Canada will press ahead with trade negotiations with the Trump administration following the US midterm elections, Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Wednesday, stressing that the newly elected US Congress will not take office until January.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, LeBlanc congratulated those elected in the US vote but said Ottawa’s "focus hasn’t changed."

He said the government is working on affordability, major projects, strengthening the economy and diversifying trade relationships, a focus that will continue in the budget.

LeBlanc pointed out the current Congress and Trump administration will continue to serve in their respective capacities until the newly elected members of Congress are officially sworn into office and begin their terms.

"So the current Congress will remain in place, as will the administration of President (Donald) Trump, with whom we’re having our trade discussions,” he said.

He said trade talks are handled by the US executive branch rather than Congress.

"Our job is to focus on what we can control, and that’s to work with the people that Americans have elected. And in the case of our trade conversations, those are conducted at the level of the American executive," he said.

LeBlanc also refrained from offering an interpretation of the American electorate’s voting decisions, noting that "it’s not up for Canadians to try and read into why particular American voters went in a particular direction."

"The American Congress will act in the interests of the American Congress. Our work will be focused on what we can do here at home," he added.