Of their first in-person assembly since Mark Carney turned Canadian Prime Minister, US President Donald Trump hosted him on the White Home on Tuesday (Could 6). Whereas the assembly was marked by diplomatic courtesies and mutual reward, stark disagreements emerged on commerce, sovereignty, and future relations.
Listed here are the important thing takeaways from the high-stakes Oval Workplace trade:
1.Trump dismisses tariff aid: “No”
US President Donald Trump flatly rejected the potential for lifting tariffs on Canadian imports throughout a high-profile Oval Workplace assembly with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday.
Requested if Carney might say something to steer him to finish tariffs on Canadian items, Trump gave a one-word reply: “No.”
2. “We don’t need vehicles from Canada”
Although Trump described the assembly as “a really pleasant dialog,” his feedback made clear that commerce friction stays a sticking level.
“We don’t actually need vehicles from Canada,” Trump mentioned. “We don’t need metal from Canada as a result of we’re making our personal metal.”
The remarks reinforce Trump’s long-standing protectionist stance and sign a troublesome street forward for any commerce flexibility with America’s northern neighbor.
3. USMCA a “whole lot,” however Canada needs extra
Trump praised the USMCA commerce settlement — the United States-Mexico-Canada Settlement that changed NAFTA — as “a superb deal for everyone.”
Carney, nevertheless, recommended that the deal may solely be a place to begin for additional talks.
“It’s a foundation for a broader negotiation,” Carney mentioned. “Some issues about it are going to have to alter.”
“It’s a fantastic honor to have the Canadian chief on the White Home,” Trump mentioned, praising Carney’s current election win. “He gained a really massive election.”
4. Trump takes credit score for Carney’s win
Throughout temporary remarks to reporters, Trump credited himself with enjoying a task in Carney’s political success.
“I feel I used to be most likely the best factor that occurred to him,” Trump mentioned. “His celebration was dropping rather a lot, and he ended up profitable. So I actually need to congratulate him, most likely one of many best comebacks within the historical past of politics, possibly even higher than mine.”
5. Carney responds: ‘Transformational President’
In response, Carney described Trump as a “transformational president” and mentioned he shared an identical imaginative and prescient for Canada’s route.
“I’ve been elected with a purpose to remodel Canada with an identical focus—on the economic system and securing borders,” Carney mentioned. “The historical past of Canada and the US is [that] we’re stronger once we work collectively.”
6. ‘Friendship’ as Trump’s solely concession
When requested by a reporter what concession he would provide in talks with Canada, Trump replied, “Friendship.”
Challenged that friendship wasn’t precisely a concession, Trump clarified, “I simply can be buddies with Canada, no matter something. We’re going to be buddies with Canada. Canada is a really particular place to me.”
7. Trump floats 51st State thought — once more, Carney pushes again
Reviving a provocative notion, Trump recommended Canada might turn out to be the 51st US state, calling it “a beautiful marriage” and downplaying the legitimacy of the US-Canada border as an “synthetic line.”
Carney firmly rejected any notion of annexation, declaring, “It’s not on the market, gained’t be on the market ever,” and reaffirmed Canadian sovereignty as non-negotiable.
8. Alignment on Ukraine, some widespread floor
Trump mentioned he and Carney have “numerous issues in widespread” however acknowledged there are “some powerful factors to go over.” A kind of, he confirmed, is the continued battle in Ukraine.
“Carney needs it ended as shortly as I do,” Trump famous, signaling potential alignment on overseas coverage objectives.
