Trump, Canada PM Carney Set To Speak Amid Tariff Tensions

 Trump, Canada PM Carney Set To Speak Amid Tariff Tensions

The call is set to come a day after Carney declared that the era of deep economic, security and military ties between the two nations "is over."

US President Donald Trump and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney are due to speak Friday, a White House official said, amid soaring tensions over tariffs and Trump’s drive to annex his country’s northern neighbour.

“A call is scheduled this morning,” the White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Carney had said on Thursday that he would speak to Trump in the “next day or two.”

The call is set to come a day after Carney declared that the era of deep economic, security and military ties between Canada and the United States “is over.”

Canada’s Prime Minister designate Mark Carney (L) isworn in by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford at Rideau Hall on March 14, 2025 in Ottawa, Canada. Carney was sworn in as Canada’s prime minister, taking charge of a country rattled by a breakdown in US relations since President Donald Trump’s return to power. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP)

 

Carney replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister two weeks ago and has called snap elections for April 28.

Typically, a new Canadian leader makes a phone call with the US president a priority immediately after taking office but Trump and Carney have not spoken.

Carney heavily criticised Trump’s decision this week to slap steep tariffs on cars.

Trump’s planned 25 percent levy on vehicle imports to the United States is to come into force next week and could be devastating for a Canadian auto industry that supports an estimated 500,000 jobs.

After Trump’s announcement, Carney paused his election campaign to return to Ottawa for an emergency cabinet meeting to work on tactics in the trade war with the United States.

He said Canada would retaliate against the auto tariffs, calling them “unjustified” and in breach of existing trade deals.

But Carney’s most eye-catching statement was his broader warning that Trump had permanently altered relations between the two North American neighbours.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Trump has repeatedly said since returning to power in January that close NATO ally Canada should become the 51st US state.

“The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over,” Carney said.

Carney warned that he would not participate in substantive trade negotiations with Washington until the president shows Canada “respect,” particularly by ending his repeated annexation threats.

AFP