WASHINGTON - Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio today in Washington. This marks their first in-person meeting amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Anand and Rubio have previously communicated by phone, including a conversation in June before the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis. The meeting comes at a time when trade relations are strained, particularly following recent tariff increases.

In July, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc visited Washington seeking a resolution to the escalating tariffs. However, U.S. President Donald Trump responded by raising duties on Canadian goods to 35 percent. These tariffs do not affect products that comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.

Canada is facing additional tariffs on various goods, including steel, aluminum, copper, and automobiles. The situation has created significant challenges for Canadian exporters.

Anand's meeting with Rubio also follows the U.S. State Department's recent imposition of sanctions on a Canadian judge serving on the International Criminal Court. This development adds another layer of complexity to the bilateral relationship.