The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister in charge of U.S. trade, has remained in Washington in the days after Prime Minister Mark Carney's Tuesday White House visit to pursue negotiations aimed at lifting punishing tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber and autos. The Globe's Robert Fife writes that the talks have taken on an intensity that has led to some optimism on the Canadian side that substantial progress can be made on sector-specific trade irritants. Mr. LeBlanc, Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia and Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, who is Ottawa's chief negotiator, have been holding talks since Tuesday with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Mr. Sabia returned to Ottawa Thursday afternoon. Mr. Carney, who ran for prime minister on a promise to defend the Canadian economy against U.S. protectionism, has been under pressure to achieve relief from punitive U.S. tariffs, especially the sector-specific tariffs that Donald Trump's administration has placed on imports of steel, aluminum, lumber and autos. The negotiations have also involved the possible revival of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas.