Canada’s newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday against the backdrop of disagreements and high tensions between the two North American neighbours.
A meeting between the leaders of Canada and the United States is not usually considered a high-stakes showdown, but there was little ordinary about this one, after Trump had spent months musing about turning Canada into the 51st state.
It was not long before a journalist asked what was on everybody’s mind – whether Trump still wants to annex Canada. Trump expressed his continued interest, characterising the border between the two nations as merely an arbitrary demarcation.
The comments prompted immediate response from the Canadian leader who snapped back at Trump stressing that Canada “won’t be for sale, ever.” Trump raised his eyebrow and responded “never say never”, to which Carney mouthed the words “never, never, never”.
The engagement provided insight into Trump's alteration of Oval Office meetings, shifting them from short and mundane interactions to tense situations that frequently compel foreign leaders to decide between appeasing or challenging the US president.
This method can be exhilarating for his supporters while creating instability for diplomats who are used to a more measured style of international diplomacy.
“There is no formula for dealing with this,” said Daniel Mulhall, who was Ireland’s ambassador to the U.S. during Trump’s first term. He described the president's unpredictable behaviour as a “risk factor” and “an extraordinary departure from the norm."
Carney's campaign was driven by a surge of frustration towards Trump's aggressive rhetoric, and this was his opportunity to confront the president directly in defence of his country. He maintained a courteous yet assertive demeanour.
It seems that Carney struck the right balance, at least according to Trump's perspective. Upon the conclusion of the meeting, the US president said “I like this guy”.
Carney says he discussed a wide range of topics with Trump, adding that despite the nature of the negotiations being complex, they were “constructive” nonetheless.
Asked by a reporter if there was anything Carney could tell him to lift his tariffs of as much as 25% on Canada, Trump bluntly said: “No” before emphasising that tariffs are there to stay until his demands are met.
Shortly before Carney’s arrival, Trump took to social media to note that Washington does not need “anything” from its northern neighbour.
Trump maintained that the United States was not interested in purchasing automobiles from Canada, regardless of whether they were assembled in the US. He added that the $63 billion trade deficit in goods, which he exaggerated to $200 billion, constituted a subsidy that must be eliminated.
Carney recognised that no amount of rhetoric regarding tariffs would influence Trump, stating that "this is a broader conversation."
“There are much bigger forces involved,” the Canadian leader continued. “And this will take some time and some discussions. And that's why we're here, to have those discussions."
Trump added that the meeting with Carney had been “great” and that he thought the ongoing relationship would be “strong.”
Canada is the primary export destination for 36 states in the United States, with nearly $2.7 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily. Approximately 60% of crude oil and 85% of electricity imports to the US come from Canada.
Canada is also the largest foreign provider of steel, aluminium, and uranium to Washington, and possesses 34 crucial minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eyeing for national security purposes.
Canada is one of the most trade-dependent nations globally, with 77% of all its exports going to the United States.
