Overview

• President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in the Oval Office for talks focused on trade, with both leaders striking a cordial tone.
• Trump lauded Carney as a “world‑class leader” and a “tough negotiator,” but the meeting yielded no breakthrough on U.S. tariffs that Canada wants eased.
• Trump signaled he could consider a bilateral agreement limited to the United States and Canada, excluding Mexico from negotiations.
• Carney seeks relief from U.S. duties on steel, aluminum and other goods, a pressing issue given that more than three quarters of Canadian exports go to the U.S.
• Pressure on Carney is mounting at home as figures such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford and unions like the United Steelworkers call for tougher countermeasures if talks stall.