Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived at the White House to engage in discussions with Donald Trump, aiming to recalibrate a relationship he believes has suffered due to the US president’s tariffs and remarks about annexation.
Mr. Carney’s Liberal Party secured victory in the 28 April election, pledging to address Mr. Trump and to establish a new bilateral economic and security framework with the United States.
This will mark his inaugural in-person meeting as prime minister with Mr. Trump.
Shortly prior to Mr. Carney’s arrival, Mr. Trump shared a message on social media.
Mr. Trump greeted Mr. Carney as they entered the White House for their discussion.
At 60, Mr. Carney, a former central banker with no prior political experience, was elected leader of the Liberal Party in March, succeeding Justin Trudeau, who had a strained relationship with Mr. Trump.
“It’s essential to engage right away … and I’m delighted to have the chance for a thorough series of meetings,” Mr. Carney stated at a press conference on Friday, noting that he anticipated the discussions would be challenging but productive.
He tempered expectations regarding immediate breakthroughs.
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“Don’t expect white smoke from that meeting,” Mr. Carney remarked, referencing the Vatican’s signal for the election of a new pope.
Canada ranks as the US’ second-largest individual trading partner after Mexico and serves as the largest export market for US goods.
In the past year, over $760 billion worth of goods exchanged hands between the two nations. Despite Canada maintaining a trade surplus exceeding $60 billion over the last two years, most of it is attributed to its position as the largest foreign supplier of oil to the US.
Ahead of the meeting, the US Commerce Department indicated that Canada’s goods trade surplus with the US decreased to a five-month low in March, coinciding with the implementation of Mr. Trump’s substantial tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.
Canadian exports to the US fell by $3.7 billion, marking the second-largest decline on record.
Data from Canada revealed that the reduction in US exports was almost balanced by an increase in exports to other global markets as Canadian companies sought new opportunities.
In March, Mr. Trump introduced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports and subsequently imposed an additional 25% tariff on cars and parts that did not meet North American free trade agreement standards.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump announced a proposed 100% tariff on all films produced outside the US, without providing details, which could adversely affect Canada’s film industry.
