OTTAWA — Amid comments from U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend that his administration could reach a trade deal with Canada “fairly soon,” Prime Minister Mark Carney says he still has hope.
In an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, when asked for an update on negotiations with the U.S., Carney reiterated what he has said several times in recent weeks: that he believes a “mutually advantageous” deal is still possible.
“One that respects our sovereignty, respects obviously the U.S. sovereignty, respects our cultural institutions, and that is a possibility,” Carney said. “We’re ready to sit down and negotiate that and move it forward.”
“So, I welcome the president’s comments,” he added.
After trade talks broke down in dramatic fashion last month, both countries slapped new tariffs on imports from the other. Trump and his administration, meanwhile, lobbed a series of insults at Canada, posting several AI-generated memes online, and moving to rename Lake Ontario.
Carney, however, said last week he remains in “regular contact” with Trump, signalling an openness to re-engagement if the U.S. respects red lines in the negotiations.
Asked whether there’s a question about which side of the trade dispute should make moves first toward renewed negotiations, Carney said no.
“There’s not a pride thing,” he said. “And from our perspective, we’re practical people that know what our bottom lines are, what our red lines are for sovereignty, for culture, not being restricted on our ability to sign other trade deals.”
The prime minister added that he believes Trump and his administration “perhaps understand those red lines a little more clearly now.”
“Given what’s happened, we’re ready to sit down,” he also said. “There’s no pride in this. We’re to do what’s right for the Canadian people.”
Carney in his interview also discussed his inaugural investment summit — taking place in Toronto Monday and Tuesday — where he stands on artificial intelligence safety and regulation, and Canada’s relationship with the European Union.
Asked whether the rhetoric from the U.S. administration, specifically its mocking comments about Canada, could affect the atmosphere at his investment summit, Carney said: “Short answer, no,” adding that the event’s attendees are “all professionals.”
With files from CTV News’ Stephanie Ha, Luca Caruso-Moro, and Jeremie Charron
