The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Dec. 9, edition that before trade talks ended in October, Ottawa and Washington were discussing a U.S. proposal to lower tariffs on most Canadian steel exports while capping the amount of steel sent to the U.S. The Globe's Mark Rendell and Steven Chase write that U.S. trade negotiators proposed a two-tier tariff-rate quota system based on Canadian steel export levels, according to sources familiar with the October talks. Under the proposal, Canadian steel shipments below a certain threshold would face tariffs of 10 to 15 per cent, significantly lower than the current 50 per cent. Shipments above that quota would see tariffs between 25 and 50 per cent. Discussions were called off after U.S. President Donald Trump became angry about a Government of Ontario TV ad, details of which have not been reported before. Washington and Ottawa discussed addressing a part of Mr. Trump's tariffs that have excluded Canadian steel from the U.S. market and increased input costs for U.S. manufacturers. Formal trade talks between Ottawa and Washington remain frozen. When asked on Sunday whether he would resume trade talks with Canada, Mr. Trump responded, "We ll see."