Carney displays optimism after meeting Trump

Mark Carney seems to breathe a little better after his first official meeting with Donald Trump. Reunion tone was generally cordial in front of the cameras and, according to the Prime minister, the discussions behind the closed doors were “very constructive”, even if the customs prices do not seem about to be lifted anytime soon.

The exercise was not an easy task: to sit next to President Trump, known for his unpredictable statements, and be beset with questions from a horde of journalists in front of cameras around the world.

A liberal source had told Radio-Canada that Mark Carney wanted to avoid slippages at all costs during this meeting to “do not relive for a moment Zelensky”. During his visit to Washington in February, the Ukrainian president was entitled to an unprecedented series of reprimands by Donald Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, who accused him of lacking respect for the United States. result: a precipitated departure of the White House.

This is not what happened on Tuesday, even if a publication of Donald Trump on his network Truth Social made the worst feared a few minutes before meeting with Mark Carney. In his message, the American president had reiterated his usual recriminations, to really assimilating the trade deficit in the United States against Canada again-which he continues to overestimate-to a subsidy.

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However, the tone was quite different in the oval office. Sitting next to Mr. Carney, who was accompanied by a large Canadian delegation – including ministers Mélanie Joly, David McGuinty and Dominic Leblanc -, President Trump adopted a much more cordial tone.

It is a great honor to have Prime Minister Mark Carney with usimmediately launched President Trump, while congratulating him for his election. He managed to return to politics Maybe even greater than minehe said, referring to the fact that the Liberal Party of Canada had been lagging behind in the polls for months before the resignation of Justin Trudeau.

It was an exceptional election. We followed it with interest and I believe that Canada has chosen a very talented person, a very good person. […] I think we have a lot in common, even if we have difficult points to approach.

Prime Minister Carney replied with humor saying that he was Sitting at the end of his seat Since his arrival in the oval office, revealing his nervous state before the meeting. He thanked Trump for his hospitality and his leadershipwhile saying that Canada and the United States share the same economic and security challenges.

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History has shown that the relationship between Canada and the United States is stronger when the two countries work togethersaid Mark Carney, indicating that he wants to focus on the Domains of common interest Between the two countries.

Several subjects on the menu

Among the thorny subjects that the two men tackled in camera is the trade war between Canada and the United States, while relations between the two countries have been at its lowest since President Trump imposed customs duties of 25 % on a series of Canadian products, including steel and aluminum.

In retaliation, Canada has also imposed 25 % customs tariffs on a number of American products.

When asked if Mark Carney could make him change his mind on the prices, Donald Trump responded with a non laconic. Because it’s like thathe added, nothing more.

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Later in the day, at a press conference at the Canada Embassy in Washington, Mr. Carney said he was not not surprised of Mr. Trump’s response.

I already said it, I did not expect to see white smoke emerging today, because they are very complex negotiations, but we have made progress. We have had very [approfondis] and very tangible.

As in any commercial negotiations, there is a process and the result will be visible at the endadded Mr. Carney.

According to the Prime Minister, international issues interest Between Canada and the United States have also been mentioned during their heads far from the cameras. A highly placed source told Radio-Canada that the two men spoke of efforts in the fight against fentanyl, as well as the border security between the two countries and the security of the Arctic.

The Russia War in Ukraine was also on the discussion menu.

Canada not for sale

According to Mark Carney, this is a sign that Canadian-American relations are healthier.

I feel better in relation to our relationships for different reasons. First of all [en raison] of the posture now adopted by the president towards Canada and then [en raison] of the concrete nature of our discussions.

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The question of the annexation of Canada by the United States, a subject which often returns to the mouth of the American president, also occupied an important part of this visit, even if Mr. Trump said that she will not be on the agenda at the work dinner to which Mr. Carney was invited.

Whether in the oval office or during their private discussions, President Trump reiterated, more than once, his wish to make Canada the 51^e État American.

In front of journalists, Mr. Carney did not stay his arms crossed, going so far as to interrupt the American president to evacuate this idea.

There are certain places that are not for sale, such as the place where we are currently sitting or the Buckingham palace. Canada is not for sale and will never be, but we have the opportunity to strengthen our partnership.

You should never say neverthen replied Donald Trump, while saying that he would respect the decision of the Canadians who do not want to make their country the country 51^e État American. But this is not a matter that will be concluded in one day, he insisted. It will take time.

Again, Mark Carney intervened to reaffirm that the Canadiens’ point of view on the question of 51^e State will not change.

A few hours after this exchange, during his press conference, the Prime Minister assured that he asked Donald Trump to no longer refer to Canada as being the 51^e État of the United States. I told her that it is not useful to repeat this idea, but [le président] Go say what he wants.

Meeting with the provinces and territories

During his meeting in Washington, Mr. Carney also wanted to remind the American president that Canada is The biggest customer in the United States while affirming that negotiations between the two countries are wide et will take time before reaching.

The two leaders will also have to mention the Canada-US-Mexico (ACEUM) agreement, which was negotiated during Donald Trump’s first term and which is to be revised in 2026.

Mr. Trump, who often described this agreement as disastrouschanged rhetoric on Tuesday, saying that this is a very good deal.

However, he criticized without appointing it the former finance minister Chrystia Freeland who had piloted the negotiations of this agreement before his signature in 2020. She was a horrible person and tried to take advantage of this agreement and get awaya dit Donald Trump. We had a bad relationship and we ended it.

For his part, Mark Carney indicated that this agreement represents A base for wider negotiations. Some things will have to be modified, there are other elements to add and we will discuss thishe added.

For the rest of things, the Prime Minister said he will bring together his counterparts from the provinces and territories on Wednesday for point On his meeting with Donald Trump and discuss the work that awaits us in Canada.

We are going to build a renewed Canadian economy where everyone can succeed in a world that is being deeply transformedsaid Mark Carney.

With Mr. Trump, We agreed to resume the conversation in the coming weeks he said, while recalling that the American president is expected in Canada for the G7 summit in June.

With information from Laurence Martin and Sophie-Hélène Lebeuf