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Carney and Trump Set Framework for Two-Phase Canada-U.S. Trade Talks

The leaders agreed to anchor negotiations in the USMCA, but U.S. tariffs remain in place as Canada seeks to link trade and security discussions.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House on Tuesday. Though the process is still taking shape, the two-step idea is emerging in comments following this week's meeting between the two leaders.
US President Donald Trump and the next Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney (photo:IANS)

Overview

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump met in the Oval Office this week, marking a shift toward a more constructive tone in Canada-U.S. relations.
  • Both leaders agreed to use the USMCA as the foundation for renegotiations, with a two-phase approach emerging: immediate bilateral talks on tariffs and a broader review in 2026.
  • Carney emphasized Canada's sovereignty during the meeting, stating Canada "won't be for sale," while Trump described the interaction as "a step up" from past tensions.
  • U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and autos remain in place, with Trump signaling no immediate plans for relief despite Canadian efforts to address trade irritants.
  • Carney proposed linking trade negotiations to security cooperation, aiming to protect Canadian exports from national-security tariffs while pledging to meet NATO's 2% defense spending target by 2030.