Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed maintaining regular communication with U.S. President Donald Trump despite the ongoing trade tensions and negative comments from U.S. officials. Carney mentioned that recent discussions with Trump have centered around global affairs, specifically how conflicts in Ukraine and Iran are impacting the international energy and grain markets. He emphasized the importance of working with the United States on global issues during a press conference held in Calgary with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The negotiations on tariffs between Canada and the U.S. collapsed last month, leading to both countries imposing tariffs on each other’s goods. The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on numerous Canadian products, prompting Canada to retaliate with equivalent tariffs on U.S. imports. In response, the Trump administration announced additional tariffs and bans on certain Canadian imports.
Carney did not disclose whether Canada would introduce further counter-tariffs on U.S. goods but expressed optimism about reaching a mutually beneficial agreement with the U.S. despite the current standstill in talks. He reaffirmed Canada’s readiness to negotiate fair deals with the United States during the joint news conference with Zelenskyy.
Despite recent disparaging remarks from Trump and key U.S. officials towards Canada, including renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” Carney has condemned such comments as inappropriate. He pushed back against the negative rhetoric, stating that it is unbecoming of their positions.
When asked about Trump’s continued criticism of Canada post-negotiation breakdown, Carney declined to speculate on the motives behind the remarks, emphasizing the importance of Canadian sovereignty in the ongoing discussions.
