The White House said Canada, along with France, both levy digital taxes, and they cost U.S. firms $2 billion a year.

All 13 of Canada's provincial and territorial leaders were in the US capital as the country seeks to avoid punitive trade tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump's planned 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports would be added onto other levies on Canadian goods, resulting in a total 50% tariff, a White House official said on Tuesday.