On Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that he maintains regular contact with the United States and that “the relationship is good” with them. despite the ongoing trade war and the absence of a possible agreement to end it, President Donald Trump. Carney made the comments during the first question period of the new fall session of Parliament, where he faced questions from Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet on the status of negotiations with Washington.
“Can he state today that he is confident that he can re-establish our privileged relationship of trust between Canada and the U.S. administration quickly, as the best way to put our trade relationship back on the right track?” Blanchet asked.
“Mr. Speaker, the relationship between Canada and the United States is good,” Carney replied in French. “Yes, we are experiencing difficulties and challenges, some setbacks, but I am proud that this government stands up for Canada.” The prime minister went on to say that he talks to Trump on a regular basis, including over the weekend, when Carney said they talked about the war in Ukraine and China. Asked by Blanchet if he planned to visit Washington, D.C., in the near future, Carney would not say if another trip or face-to-face meeting with Trump was in the works.
“The U.S. president is a modern man,” he said of the 79-year-old Trump. “I speak with him regularly. We send each other text messages.”
The Prime Minister’s Office last issued a readout from a conversation between Carney and Trump on Aug. 21. Carney met with Trump at the White House in early May, shortly after the Liberals’ victory in April’s federal election. He has not returned to the U.S. since, but met with Trump directly at June’s G7 summit in Alberta.Since those meetings, trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have repeatedly stalled, and Trump has raised his tariff rate on Canada to 35 per cent.That rate is higher than what many other American trade partners currently face, but is lower than select countries that have faced Trump’s ire, such as China, India and Brazil.
Carney reiterated Monday that the 35 per cent tariff rate only applies to goods that aren’t covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade (CUSMA) — about 15 per cent of exports to the U.S. — which he called a “success” for Canada.
Yet Canada also faces sector-specific tariffs as high as 50 per cent on steel, aluminum, copper, autos and lumber.
The U.S. also ended a so-called “de minimis” tariff exemption on low-value packages that cross its borders, effectively ending duty-free shipping to the country in a move criticized by Canadian businesses.
Despite this, Carney stated to the House of Commons that “we have the best deal with the United States of America worldwide right now.” He added that Canada must additionally focus its efforts on diversifying its trade relationships with Europe, Asia and South America.
Carney says U.S. ‘relationship is good,’ texts ‘modern man’ Trump often
