A vocal critic of US President Donald Trump as Canada-US trade minister is Prime Minister Mark Carney’s answer to the trade war between the two North American neighbours. Carney unveiled his new Cabinet on Tuesday (May 13), appointing New Brunswick lawmaker Dominic LeBlanc as the Canada-US trade minister. LeBlanc’s biggest challenge is no different from his counterparts across the globe - dealing with US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
LeBlanc, who was the country’s finance minister from mid-December 2024 till April 2025 before the federal election, had described Trump’s move as "vandalizing" the economic relationship between the two nations after the tariffs started to take effect.
In response to the US administration's imposition of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, LeBlanc had in April advocated for a strong stance against the US. His solution was to implement reciprocal tariffs on a range of US goods, aiming to protect Canadian industries and assert the country's economic sovereignty.
He has maintained open lines of communication with US officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to seek constructive solutions despite the tensions and emphasized the importance of diplomacy and collaboration, stating that while Canada will stand firm against unfair trade practices, it remains committed to finding mutually beneficial resolutions to the ongoing disputes.
LeBlanc said the Canadian government’s “number one objective” is to get rid of the Trump administration’s punitive tariffs and to build economic partnerships with other countries.
After the announcement, he posted on X and said, “Thank you, Prime Minister @MarkJCarney for entrusting me with the role of President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-US Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and One Canadian Economy. I am eager to build Canada Strong together.”
Who is Dominic LeBlanc?
He is the son of former Governor General Roméo LeBlanc and Joslyn “Lyn” Carter and was born in Ottawa on December 14, 1967.
A lawyer by training, he has represented New Brunswick’s Beauséjour riding since 2000 and, in 2003, married Jolène Richard, a former Moncton lawyer who became a judge on the Provincial Court of New Brunswick; the couple lives in Moncton and has an adult stepson.
While public office holders in Canada do not disclose a lump‑sum net worth, LeBlanc’s official remuneration is transparent. His net worth and details of assets are not known.
As of April 1, 2025, a backbench MP’s base salary rose to CAD 211,000, and Cabinet ministers, of which LeBlanc is one, collect roughly CAD 311,500 annually, including ministerial allowances.
Future of Canada-US relations under LeBlanc
Under LeBlanc’s leadership, Canada–US trade relations are poised to change, with the tariff war likely to see a lot less punches.
Due to his long‑standing rapport with key US figures and his new “One Canadian Economy” agenda, LeBlanc will press for phased tariff relief, combining WTO challenges with targeted exemptions, while accelerating the diversification of Canadian trade toward Europe and Asia.
His appointment has drawn mixed reactions. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce hailed the move as “smart, tough and experienced,” while opposition Conservatives criticized the inclusion of several Trudeau‑era ministers, 14 in total, as evidence of “more of the same” when real change is needed.
Prime Minister Carney introduced a trimmed-down Cabinet of 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, down from 39, tasked with tackling punitive U.S. tariffs and forging a “one Canadian economy” by removing internal trade barriers by July 1.
Carney stressed that “our workers and businesses continue to face the unfair tariffs imposed by the United States. My government will fight for Canadians.”
“Canada has what the world needs, and we defend the values that the world respects,” he added.
LeBlanc, who was the country’s finance minister from mid-December 2024 till April 2025 before the federal election, had described Trump’s move as "vandalizing" the economic relationship between the two nations after the tariffs started to take effect.
In response to the US administration's imposition of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, LeBlanc had in April advocated for a strong stance against the US. His solution was to implement reciprocal tariffs on a range of US goods, aiming to protect Canadian industries and assert the country's economic sovereignty.
He has maintained open lines of communication with US officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to seek constructive solutions despite the tensions and emphasized the importance of diplomacy and collaboration, stating that while Canada will stand firm against unfair trade practices, it remains committed to finding mutually beneficial resolutions to the ongoing disputes.
LeBlanc said the Canadian government’s “number one objective” is to get rid of the Trump administration’s punitive tariffs and to build economic partnerships with other countries.
After the announcement, he posted on X and said, “Thank you, Prime Minister @MarkJCarney for entrusting me with the role of President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-US Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and One Canadian Economy. I am eager to build Canada Strong together.”
Who is Dominic LeBlanc?
He is the son of former Governor General Roméo LeBlanc and Joslyn “Lyn” Carter and was born in Ottawa on December 14, 1967.
A lawyer by training, he has represented New Brunswick’s Beauséjour riding since 2000 and, in 2003, married Jolène Richard, a former Moncton lawyer who became a judge on the Provincial Court of New Brunswick; the couple lives in Moncton and has an adult stepson.
While public office holders in Canada do not disclose a lump‑sum net worth, LeBlanc’s official remuneration is transparent. His net worth and details of assets are not known.
As of April 1, 2025, a backbench MP’s base salary rose to CAD 211,000, and Cabinet ministers, of which LeBlanc is one, collect roughly CAD 311,500 annually, including ministerial allowances.
Future of Canada-US relations under LeBlanc
Under LeBlanc’s leadership, Canada–US trade relations are poised to change, with the tariff war likely to see a lot less punches.
Due to his long‑standing rapport with key US figures and his new “One Canadian Economy” agenda, LeBlanc will press for phased tariff relief, combining WTO challenges with targeted exemptions, while accelerating the diversification of Canadian trade toward Europe and Asia.
His appointment has drawn mixed reactions. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce hailed the move as “smart, tough and experienced,” while opposition Conservatives criticized the inclusion of several Trudeau‑era ministers, 14 in total, as evidence of “more of the same” when real change is needed.
Prime Minister Carney introduced a trimmed-down Cabinet of 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, down from 39, tasked with tackling punitive U.S. tariffs and forging a “one Canadian economy” by removing internal trade barriers by July 1.
Carney stressed that “our workers and businesses continue to face the unfair tariffs imposed by the United States. My government will fight for Canadians.”
“Canada has what the world needs, and we defend the values that the world respects,” he added.
