Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are engaged in private discussions to negotiate a trade agreement and remove tariffs. Reliable sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Carney and Trump have been in contact through phone calls and text messages since Carney’s recent visit to the White House. The discussions have not been publicly disclosed.
The talks are focused on resolving the trade conflict initiated by the U.S. against Canada. Both leaders have expressed their interest in establishing a new economic and security pact. However, tensions escalated when Trump increased tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada to 50 percent, affecting major Canadian industries.
Carney hinted at ongoing intense discussions and potential retaliatory measures if negotiations with the U.S. fail. Sources anticipate a potential trade agreement between Canada and the U.S. before the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc declined to comment on the progress of the negotiations publicly.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed that diplomatic discussions are normal during a trade dispute but emphasized that negotiations will not be conducted in public. The White House acknowledged Trump’s direct involvement in talks with Canada regarding trade, border security, and defense matters. However, any official announcements will come directly from President Trump.
Both the U.S. embassy and a White House spokesperson highlighted that ongoing conversations are acknowledged, but details will not be discussed publicly. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra mentioned that high-level officials are involved in settling the trade deal. The direct talks between Carney and Trump were initially reported by the Globe and Mail.
Carney, who vowed to challenge Trump, faces mounting pressure to respond to the heightened tariffs imposed by the U.S. The Canadian Steel Producers Association condemned the increased tariffs as detrimental to the industry and called for immediate countermeasures. Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged for swift action if an agreement cannot be reached promptly.
