Steve Verheul, a former Canadian chief trade negotiator, says he does not expect Canada and the United States to reach a tariff deal before the U.S. midterm elections. Speaking to an online business audience, Verheul argues that timing and U.S. political incentives make a pre-midterms agreement unlikely. He notes that there could be a limited window in the fall, when the U.S. administration is seeking a visible win, but he still expects negotiations to extend beyond the midterms. The assessments reported across outlets align on Verheul’s central message: despite the possibility of temporary momentum, a tariff agreement before the election is not anticipated. The reports do not specify the details of what the deal would cover, nor do they cite any new commitments from either government. Instead, they focus on Verheul’s view of the negotiation timetable and the role of U.S. election dynamics in shaping when an agreement could happen.