Commencement of "intricate talks" with President Trump, according to Carney
Stepping into the Fire
Newly crowned Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, faced his first big test on Tuesday, as the world tuned in to his initial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
Following an Oval Office encounter and a shared lunch, Mr. Carney reported "productive conversations" with the president, but without announcing any concrete progress on the brewing trade war.
"We're engaged in some pretty complicated negotiations on a myriad of issues," the Prime Minister remarked during an afternoon press conference in the U.S. capital, underscoring that deliberate advances couldn't be expected at every stage.
He also called the provincial premiers for a meeting the very next day to discuss his discussions with the president.
The much-anticipated encounter in the Oval Office began cordially, with both leaders exchanging pleasantries. However, Trump maintained his stance against easing tariffs on Canadian goods and reiterated his stance that annexing Canada as the 51st state could yield "enormous benefits."
Trump refused to budge on tariffs, stating, "That's it." He then articulated that his government had no interest in Canadian cars, steel, or aluminum.
According to Carney, the firmness on tariffs wasn't surprising. "It's a complex situation. There's no Canadian initiative that can alter this scenario," he stated in his press conference a few hours later.
The inaugural meeting between Carney and Trump wasn't intended to result in immediate deals, Sandra Aubé, former chief of staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and vice-president of federal affairs at Tact Conseil, declared to Le Devoir.
"Anyone who thought that [the Canadian government] would emerge victorious from this isn't familiar with this type of meeting and probably isn't informed about the current state of our bilateral relationship," she explained.
Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods, and his frequent comments suggesting annexation, have added strain to the already difficult relationship between the two countries, according to Aubé.
Throughout his election campaign, Mark Carney positioned himself as the ideal negotiator to address the tariff conflict with Trump.
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On the Market
During their half-hour meeting in the Oval Office, Carney refrained from offering extensive input—a decision Aubé believes prevented any potential blunders, avoiding a repeat of the disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that took place in February.
If Aubé believes Carney would have likely wanted to express disagreement more, it was essential to keep heated exchanges at bay, especially during their inaugural tête-à-tête. "Expressing disagreement, he did," she acknowledged. "It could have been more direct, but that comes with risks."
Carney and Trump will meet again at the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this summer.
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Videos to Watch
[Linked videos have been omitted for brevity]
- In an interview with Le Devoir, Sandra Aubé, former chief of staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed her belief that Prime Minister Mark Carney made a wise decision by not offering extensive input during his initial meeting with President Donald Trump, avoiding a potential repeat of a disastrous meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- The ongoing tariff conflict between Canada and the United States has added strain to the already difficult relationship between the two countries, as Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods and frequent comments suggesting annexation have caused tension.
- During the press conference following his meeting with President Trump, Prime Minister Carney stated that any Canadian initiative would not be able to alter the current tariff scenario, recognizing the complexity of the situation.
- In the bonus reads section, it is suggested that the upcoming weeks are set to be hectic in federal politics, with topics such as policy and legislation, politics, and general news likely to dominate discussions.
- The upcoming G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, this summer will provide another opportunity for Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump to meet and discuss their differing policies, particularly in regards to war-and-conflicts, trade, and policy-and-legislation.
