Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to hold his first official meeting with United States President, Donald Trump, on Tuesday, following his re-election campaign that emphasized pushing back against Trump’s tariffs and annexation rhetoric.
Carney has made it clear that the status quo in U.S.-Canada relations is no longer sustainable under Trump’s leadership.
He has also advised against anticipating any immediate breakthroughs from the White House discussions.
The two leaders will sit down at 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT), starting with a welcome, followed by lunch, and then a formal meeting in the Oval Office.
Trade tensions between the neighboring countries have intensified, with the United States imposing sweeping 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods.
Some of these, particularly those affecting the auto industry, have been temporarily lifted during ongoing talks. Additional tariffs have also targeted steel and aluminum exports.
Trump, who has previously floated the idea of Canada joining the U.S. as its 51st state, referred to Carney as a “very nice gentleman” after a phone conversation last week.
However, speaking with reporters on Monday, he appeared unsure of the meeting’s purpose.
“He’s coming to see me. I’m not sure what he wants to see me about, but I guess he wants to make a deal. Everybody does,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
Carney, a 60-year-old leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, has pledged a dramatic redefinition of the country’s relationship with its southern neighbour, marking what could be the most significant political and economic realignment since the end of World War II.
“Our old relationship based on steadily increasing integration is over. The questions now are how our nations will cooperate in the future,” Carney stated on Friday.
