From successful Oval Office meeting to uncertain talks – here’s what’s happening with Canadapublished at 14:30 British Summer Time
Jessica Murphy
BBC News, Toronto
Canada’s prime minister won April’s general election by pitching himself as the leader who could take on the self-styled “Tariff Man” in the White House.
In May, Mark Carney journeyed south to Washington to court the president and formally launch trade and security talks. The PM was praised for his handling of the meeting, despite Trump’s Oval Office references to making Canada the 51st US state.
Leading up to the G7, hosted by Canada in June, word was that the two countries were close to an agreement. At the summit, Trump and Carney met again, and Trump conceded hurdles remained – he’s a “tariff person” and Carney “has a more complex idea”, he said.
Still, they appeared optimistic and set a late July deadline for a deal.
Canada has since killed a digital services tax that American tech firms opposed, pressed ahead with talks despite Trump’s threats to walk away, and moved the deadline to August. Trump has said he would increase Canada’s baseline tariffs to 35% from 25% and add global tariffs on copper, a major Canadian export.
This month, both Trump and Carney poured cold water on the idea of a quick, tariff-free deal.
“The United States and Canada can do many good things together, we have done that in the past, we can do more in the future, but on fair terms for our country,” Carney said on Monday.
The “complex” talks are at “an intense phase, he said.
Meanwhile, Trump posted on social media on Thursday morning that Canada’s plans to recognise a Palestinian state will “make it very hard” to reach a deal.
Image source, Getty Images
