The pressure from the U.S. on the Carney government to drop the Liberals’ controversial Online Streaming Act just got even more forceful.

Last week, Representative Lloyd Smucker, a Republican from Pennsylvania, introduced legislation co-sponsored by several other Republicans in the House of Representatives, that would direct the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office to launch an investigation into the Online Streaming Act, passed by the Trudeau government in 2023.

JAY GOLDBERG: Pressure on Carney to repeal the Online Streaming Act ramps up Back to video

Republican lawmakers want the USTR to determine if the Liberal government’s legislation constitutes an unfair trading practice targeting U.S. businesses, which would be a pretext for allowing the Trump administration to impose higher tariffs on Canada. USTR Jamieson Greer has long pointed to the Online Streaming Act as one of the primary impediments to a renewed trade deal between Canada and the U.S.

The Online Streaming Act would force streaming companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus to provide 5% of their streaming revenue earned in Canada........

© Edmonton Sun