Trump to Host Canada’s Carney Amid Deep Rift Over Trade, Tariffs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, aiming to repair one of the most strained U.S.-Canada relationships in decades. The talks come amid escalating trade tensions, tariff disputes, and Trump’s provocative remarks about making Canada the “51st state.” Expectations remain low as both leaders navigate deep political and economic divides.
U.S.-Canada Relations Quick Looks
- Carney meets Trump at the White House to discuss trade and tariffs.
- Meeting schedule: Greeting at 11:30 a.m., meeting at 11:45, lunch at 12:15 p.m. ET.
- Relations at “lowest point in memory,” says former ambassador Frank McKenna.
- Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum under Section 232.
- Carney seeks tariff relief and stability ahead of 2026 USMCA review.
- Trump boasts that Canadian companies are “moving into the U.S.” due to tariffs.
- Analysts warn Carney faces domestic backlash if no progress is achieved.
- $2.5 billion in goods cross the border daily; Canada buys U.S. exports from 36 states.
- Canada supplies 60% of U.S. crude imports and 85% of its electricity imports.
- Experts fear a “deep chill” if the U.S. threatens to terminate the trade pact.
Deep Look
Canadian PM Mark Carney Visits Trump as U.S.-Canada Relationship Reaches Historic Low
WASHINGTON — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived at the White House on Tuesday for a crucial meeting with President Donald Trump, at a moment when one of the world’s closest alliances has hit its lowest point in generations.
Carney’s visit — his second since taking office — comes as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces a critical review in 2026, and amid intensifying tensions fueled by Trump’s tariffs and his recent talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
The meeting began with a brief greeting in the Oval Office at 11:30 a.m. ET, followed by closed-door discussions at 11:45 and a working lunch scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Trade Relations at a Breaking Point
Carney’s visit comes against a backdrop of fractured economic and political ties. Once among the most seamless partnerships in global trade, the U.S.-Canada relationship has been strained by tariffs, trade threats, and political rhetoric.
“We’ve had ups and downs, but this is the lowest point in relations that I can recall,” said Frank McKenna, former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. and deputy chairman of TD Bank. “There’s an outright rebellion — people are canceling business trips, shifting corporate meetings, even changing vacation plans.”
Trump’s administration has imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, citing national security concerns under Section 232. Carney is pushing for partial relief, with insiders suggesting possible reductions to 25% or new tariff-free quotas at last year’s trade levels.
Trump’s Message: “He’s Losing Companies”
Speaking Monday after signing an executive order related to Alaska, Trump downplayed the meeting’s stakes but made clear his position.
“I guess he’s going to ask about tariffs,” Trump said. “A lot of companies from Canada are moving into the United States. He’s losing a lot of companies in Canada.”
Carney, meanwhile, has defended the USMCA, arguing that despite the tariffs, the agreement remains vital for Canada’s economic security. He has repeatedly emphasized that more than 85% of U.S.-Canada trade remains tariff-free and that the average tariff rate on Canadian goods — 5.6% — is still the lowest among U.S. trading partners.
Still, the prime minister faces growing domestic pressure to protect key Canadian industries, especially steel, aluminum, and energy.
The Stakes: A $2.5 Billion Daily Partnership
Despite the tensions, the U.S. and Canada maintain one of the largest bilateral trading relationships in the world. Each day, roughly $2.5 billion (C$3.6 billion) in goods and services crosses the border.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states, and the two nations are deeply interlinked in defense, border security, energy, and manufacturing.
Canada supplies:
- 60% of U.S. crude oil imports,
- 85% of U.S. electricity imports, and
- Most of the steel, aluminum, uranium, and critical minerals the Pentagon depends on.
These shared resources underscore what analysts describe as a paradox of interdependence: even as political relations deteriorate, economic and security ties remain indispensable.
“The bigger prize,” said McKenna, “would be getting a mutual agreement to negotiate a freer trade relationship. But if the U.S. threatens to terminate USMCA with six months’ notice, that would send a deep chill across North America.”
Political Pressure at Home
Carney’s trip is also being closely watched in Ottawa, where opposition parties have warned him not to return empty-handed. Daniel Béland, a political scientist at McGill University, said Carney’s challenge is balancing diplomacy with domestic expectations.
“Improving relations with the White House is certainly an objective,” Béland said. “But if Carney can’t make progress on tariffs, opposition parties — and many Canadians — will see this as a wasted opportunity.”
Polls in Canada show a sharp decline in public confidence toward the U.S. government. Trump’s remarks about annexation and his trade policies have triggered what one analyst called a “collective sense of betrayal” among Canadians long accustomed to the stability of the cross-border alliance.
The Road Ahead
Carney’s office has not detailed specific outcomes expected from the meeting, but sources close to the discussions say the two leaders may establish a working group on trade relief to examine tariff adjustments before the USMCA review next year.
For now, the visit is more about stabilizing relations than resolving every issue.
“If we can just get the conversation back on track,” said one Canadian diplomat, “that alone would be progress.”
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