WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Mark Carney says he "pressed the case" on tariffs in his closed-door meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump today, and serious trade discussions can now begin between the two countries.
Carney says that while it’s not clear how long U.S. tariffs on Canada will last, the country has “very strong” arguments against levies he says will undermine U.S. employment.
He says Trump talked again in private about making Canada a U.S. state, adding there's a big difference between the president's wishes and reality.
Carney also says he feels better about America’s trade “posture” coming out of the meeting, although he did not provide details of what was discussed.
The prime minister is set to brief Canada’s premiers on Wednesday about his first in-person meeting with Trump.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Carney appears to have "held his own" with Trump, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she hopes this is a chance for a reset in relations.
— Written by Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington, D.C., and Kyle Duggan in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
The Canadian Press
