Overview

• Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump are meeting at the White House today to discuss the deepening trade conflict and future bilateral relations.
• Carney is accompanied by senior Canadian ministers and has emphasized that this meeting is a starting point for talks, cautioning against expecting immediate resolutions.
• The U.S. has imposed sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and vehicles, with Canada responding with equivalent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports.
• Carney has rejected Trump’s repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, stating that Canadian sovereignty is non-negotiable.
• The meeting aims to lay groundwork for a new economic and security framework as both leaders navigate a strained relationship and uncertain trade dynamics.