U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington had been clear that tariffs on medium- and heavy-duty trucks were excluded from negotiations with Canada. In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Wednesday, Greer said the U.S. had offered Canada the "best deal available to any country on the planet." He distinguished existing Section 232 measures on autos and pickup trucks from a separate action covering medium- and heavy-duty trucks, adding that effective tariff rates differed. Greer said the U.S. remained focused on what was good for America while accommodating Canada as far as possible. He said a proposed deal would have reduced U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 25% from 50%, but argued Canada could not become a back door for metals from other countries. Greer also described steel, aluminum and autos as U.S. national-security measures covered by exclusions under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). He said the agreement originally allowed a country to be removed if it entered a free-trade agreement with a non-market economy such as China. Greer said no talks were currently taking place and that officials had no open channels. The failed negotiations drew criticism from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Democratic Party Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed and economist Peter Schiff, who cited potential tax increases, auto-sector job losses and higher living costs linked to 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.