White House: No Trade War is Emerging With Canada

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is disputing the notion that a trade war is emerging between Canada and the U.S. over lumber, dairy and coal. He said existing dispute settlement mechanisms will be used to iron out differences.Meanwhile, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's minister of international trade, addressed the Conference on the Americas at the State Department. In late afternoon remarks entitled "inclusive trade and prosperity across the hemisphere," the new trade negotiator promoted "Canada’s progressive approach to trade and [highlight] the possibilities that exist to build closer trade, investment and people-to-people ties between our partners in the Americas," according to a release from his office.“We need to think differently about how we pursue trade," Champagne said in prepared remarks. “If we are not in the business of securing the social license to pursue an ambitious trade agenda then we will succumb to the forces opposed to it.”Champagne also defended NAFTA, noting the decades-old trade deal now up for renegotiation “has shown that openness will lead to the development of global value chains.”