Trump, Carney Discuss Key Issues in Washington
(MENAFN) Trade tensions, tariffs, and international conflicts dominated high-level discussions between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday in Washington.
Carney arrived with a clear mission: to push for tariff concessions he argues are damaging both economies. Yet, amidst the negotiation heat, mutual praise was prominently exchanged.
Trump openly lauded Canada and Carney, while the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Trump’s efforts to tighten the shared border—a move credited with curbing the influx of the lethal opioid fentanyl into the United States.
Throughout the Oval Office meeting, Trump took center stage, fielding reporter questions, while Carney remained largely reserved, offering only limited remarks, including describing Trump as a “transformative” president on trade.
“We are the second-largest trading partner (of the US),” Carney emphasized, forecasting that bilateral trade could surge to $8 trillion within the next five years.
Trump acknowledged competition between the two nations in sectors like automobile manufacturing, where each seeks to prioritize domestic production. Despite this, he remained optimistic about the prospects of a beneficial trade agreement.
“I think they will be very happy,” Trump said, underscoring the potential positive impact for Canadians.
Carney also praised Trump’s diplomatic strides, thanking him for his role in seeking an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and for unveiling a 20-point ceasefire proposal last week aimed at resolving hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Reiterating his stance, Trump insisted that the tariffs imposed are “fair” and justified by America’s historical disadvantage in trade relations.
On the contentious issue of fentanyl crossing the US-Canada border, Canadian officials maintain that less than 1 percent of the deadly drug entering the US originates from Canada, a figure Trump contests as being much higher.
Responding diplomatically, Carney stated, “Any amount is too much. It is less than 1 percent. It is still too much.”
Additionally, Trump commended Canada for significantly reducing illegal immigration across their shared border, highlighting progress in this critical area.
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