CHICOUTIMI — Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is “loyal” to the supply management system protecting Canada’s dairy sector.

Supply management has been cited by the U.S. as a key irritant in trade negotiations and President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about the level of U.S. dairy farmers’ access to Canada’s market.

Carney took questions from reporters today after touring an aluminum facility in Saguenay, Que.

He said the fact that the Liberal candidate in the upcoming byelection for Chicoutimi-Le Fjord is a former dairy producer shows the government is committed to keeping supply management in place.

Carney’s remarks came while Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Janice Charette, chief trade negotiator, are in Washington for talks with the U.S. trade representative.

The meeting comes less than two weeks before Trump is set to hit Canada with another round of tariffs on a wide range of goods.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2026.

— With files from Émilie Bergeron.in Ottawa and Thomas Laberge in Chicoutimi

The Canadian Press