Prime Minister Mark Carney is poised to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, marking their first face-to-face interaction since Carney took office on March 14.
This meeting will take place just before Carney announces his new cabinet following Monday’s federal election.
The agenda for the discussions will prominently feature Trump’s ongoing trade war against Canada, as the two leaders explore the possibility of negotiating a new trade and security agreement.
In his initial press conference after securing a minority government, Carney was queried by reporters about his approach to Parliament and the upcoming discussions with the Trump administration.
He emphasized that he does not intend to negotiate publicly, specifically regarding conditions such as the lifting of U.S. tariffs.
When asked about concerns of being “ambushed” by U.S. officials—drawing parallels to the experience of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—Carney expressed confidence in his preparation.
“I go there with the expectation of … difficult but constructive discussions,” he stated, reflecting on the spirit of his previous conversations with Trump.
Carney underscored the importance of being well-prepared and understanding the objectives of his counterpart while promoting Canada’s best interests.
The context of the meeting includes the U.S. administration justifying tariffs on Canada through the lens of tackling the cross-border flow of fentanyl, despite minor seizures of the drug at the northern border.
Carney criticized the persistence of these tariffs, stating, “We don’t understand why they’re still in place,” highlighting the challenge ahead.
Additionally, Trump has cited a perceived trade deficit of $63.3 billion between the U.S. and Canada to justify his administration’s tariffs, further complicating the situation.
Despite Trump’s repeated claims about the U.S. subsidizing Canada by $200 billion annually—a assertion unsupported by the U.S. trade office which reported a 1.4% decrease in the trade deficit from 2023 to 2024—Carney remains adamant about advocating for Canada’s economic interests.
Carney campaigned on positioning himself as a strong contender against Trump’s aggressive stance to bolster American manufacturing through substantial import levies, alongside the president’s unsettling comments regarding the potential annexation of Canada.
While Trump’s rhetoric has softened since Carney’s election, he recently described the Prime Minister as a “very nice gentleman” but reverted to his remarks about making Canada a “cherished” state in the final campaign stretch.
Yet, Carney noted that in their recent call, Trump refrained from discussing the topic of Canada’s annexation.
As discussions about trade and security resume, Carney emphasized the necessity of differentiating between “wants and reality.”
He reiterated the Canadian public’s clear stance against any notion of annexation, asserting, “This will never ever happen.”
The upcoming meeting seeks to strengthen the Canada-U.S. partnership, with Carney acknowledging the complexity of the discussions ahead, predicting “zigs and zags, ups and downs.”
Nevertheless, he remains committed to fighting for the best possible deal for Canada, vowing to take the necessary time to reach a favorable outcome.
The diplomatic landscape has shifted significantly since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure, during which he frequently faced Trump’s aggressive taunts and tariff impositions.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2025.
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