ADVERTISEMENTIt is a first tension under tension. Tuesday, May 6, Mark Carney, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, went to the White House to meet the American president Donald Trump, on Background of disagreements and strong tensions between the two countries.
If, for this first meeting, the two men remained courteous, it did not take long to see the republican president blow up again on the embers, saying that he always wanted to annex Canada to make it the 51st American conditionthus qualifying the border between the two countries of “simple arbitrary demarcation”.
A provocation that did not fail to make Mark Carney react, who replied by stressing that Canada “will never be for sale”. “You must never say,” said Donald Trump, raising the eyebrow. “Never, never, never!” Said the Canadian Prime Minister.
The meeting between the two leaders highlighted the whole spectrum of Unique mixture of Donald Trump aggression, hospitality and stubbornnessPuting these brief and banal interaction meetings to tense situations forcing foreign leaders to choose the situation or challenge the United States president.
A method that can be exhilarating for his supporters, while creating instability for diplomats accustomed to a more measured style. “There is no formula to deal with this situation,” said Daniel Mulhall, Irish ambassador to the United States during Donald Trump’s first term, qualifying the unpredictable behavior of the president of “risk factor”.
The two leaders also have discussed, according to Mark Carney, of a wide range of subjects, including that of tradein the context of trade war initiated by Donald Trump. The latter assured that he always wanted to implement his plan, currently unanswered for 90 days, adding that other countries need the United States much more than Washington does not need them.
He even assured that there was Just Mark Carney could say who would make him change his mindbefore stressing that customs duties will remain in force until its requirements are met.
“We could sign 25 agreements right now, Howard [Lutnick, secrétaire au commerce, NDLR]if we wanted. We don’t need to sign agreements. They must sign agreements with us, “said Donald Trump.” They want a share of our market. We do not want part of their market, we make fun of their market. “
-He also maintained that the United States was not interested in the purchase of cars in Canada, whether or not it was assembled in the United States.
For Mark Carney, the surcharge imposed by Donald Trump enter into a “much wider conversation”. “”It will take time and discussions. And that is why we are here to have these discussions, “he assured, opening the door to new meetings.
Leaving this tête-à-tête, Mark Carney described the constructive meetingadding that Canada wanted to collaborate with Washington, but not to the detriment of its interests.
For his part, Donald Trump said the meeting with the Canadian leader had been “formidable” And that it was convinced that relations between the two countries would remain solid.
The Canada is the main destination for exports of 36 US stateswith nearly $ 2.7 billion in goods and services that cross the border every day. About 60 % of crude oil and 85 % of electricity imported into the United States comes from Canada.
Canada is also the leading foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium in Washington, and has 34 minerals and crucial metals that the pentagon is looking for national security purposes.
Canada is one of the most dependent nations of world trade, 77 % of its exports being intended in the United States.
