US president says he and the Canadian PM ‘agree on many issues’ and can meet after Canada’s elections subsequent month.
President Donald Trump says he has had an “extraordinarily productive name” with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney amid a spike in tensions and an escalating trade war between the USA and its northern neighbour.
In a social media put up describing the decision on Friday, the US president sounded conciliatory in the direction of Canada. Notably, Trump referred to the Canadian chief by his appropriate title as prime minister after months of calling Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau “governor”.
“I simply completed talking with Prime Minister Mark Carney, of Canada,” Trump wrote.
“It was an especially productive name, we agree on many issues, and can be assembly instantly after Canada’s upcoming Election to work on parts of Politics, Enterprise, and all different components, that can find yourself being nice for each the USA of America and Canada.”
Whereas the assertion lacked specifics, it marked a change in tone from Trump’s threats and hostile rhetoric in the direction of Canada, which included repeated requires the US to annex the nation and make it its 51st state.
Friday’s talks have been the primary between the 2 leaders since Carney succeeded Trudeau two weeks in the past.
The decision got here lower than 24 hours after Carney forcefully rebuked Trump for rising tariffs on Canadian items. The US president had introduced 25-percent levies on overseas vehicles, beginning on Wednesday.
“I reject any makes an attempt to weaken Canada, to put on us down, to interrupt us, in order that America can personal us. That may by no means occur,” Carney stated on Thursday.
He additionally recommended that US-Canada ties have undergone a dramatic transformation due to Trump.
“The outdated relationship we had with the USA – based mostly on deepening integration of our economies and tight safety and army cooperation – is over,” the Canadian prime minister instructed reporters.
Nonetheless, Carney stated he was trying ahead to talking to Trump to resolve the problems between the 2 international locations.
The Canadian prime minister has visited the UK and France after taking workplace. He has not but gone to the US – historically Ottawa’s closest ally and commerce companion.
On Thursday, he careworn the necessity for Canada to “pivot” its commerce relationships away from the US.
Earlier this week, Trump warned Ottawa and the European Union towards teaming up towards Washington, threatening “far bigger” tariffs towards each.
Canada is to carry a normal election on April 28. Carney’s Liberal Get together has surged within the polls over the previous few weeks partly due to the change in its management after Trudeau’s resignation in addition to the standoff with the US.