OTTAWA – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are engaged in direct communication as part of Canada’s effort to convince Washington to lift steep tariffs, Industry Minister Melanie Joly confirmed on Thursday.
“We are in a trade war, and it’s normal that during such a time, diplomatic negotiations also take place. That’s why Prime Minister Carney and President Trump are speaking directly,” Joly told reporters. According to The Globe and Mail, the two leaders have been secretly holding discussions to develop a framework for a comprehensive trade and security agreement.
Earlier this week, Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25 percent to 50 percent. The hike is likely to significantly impact Canada, which is the largest exporter of these metals to the United States.
Speaking on Wednesday, Carney said both countries were involved in intense negotiations, adding that Canada was “preparing reprisals if those negotiations do not succeed.”
Pete Hoekstra, U.S. ambassador to Canada, told The Globe that both nations were working on outlining the parameters of a potential deal. Discussions reportedly include boosting U.S. content in automobiles, expanding access to Canadian critical minerals, and enhancing Canada’s role in Arctic security.
Other key topics under negotiation include defense spending, energy collaboration, border security, steel and aluminum trade, and efforts to stop fentanyl smuggling, the report stated.
In a statement, an official from the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa said: “Both the President and Prime Minister, or members of their teams, have publicly acknowledged that there are ongoing conversations.”
Meanwhile, Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, has called on Prime Minister Carney to impose retaliatory measures immediately in response to the tariffs.