President Donald Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House yesterday to talk trade, tariffs, and the U.S.-Canada relationship.
It was Carney’s first visit since becoming Canada’s new leader just over a week ago, and while there weren’t any big breakthroughs, both sides walked away without any fireworks.
The main issue? Tariffs.
Trump has placed heavy tariffs on several Canadian exports — 25% on cars, steel, and aluminum, and 10% on oil. He’s also put a 25% tariff on goods that don’t meet USMCA trade standards.
In response, Canada slapped $21 billion in retaliatory tariffs on American goods like orange juice, whiskey, and motorcycles.
Carney came to Washington hoping to change Trump’s mind. That didn’t happen.
When asked directly if Carney could convince him to lift the tariffs, Trump simply said, “No, that’s just the way it is.”
Carney pointed out that Canada is the U.S.’s biggest customer and that keeping trade flowing helps both economies.
He didn’t expect quick progress but said the meeting was a good first step.
.@POTUS: “This is a very friendly conversation, but we want to make our own cars. We don’t really want cars from Canada, and we put tariffs on cars from Canada… and we don’t want steel from Canada because we’re making our own steel… Because of past thinking of people, we have… pic.twitter.com/icUG1sz57t
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 6, 2025
A Different Tone Than Trudeau
The tone of this meeting stood out. Trump and Carney were respectful and even friendly.
Trump called Carney a “very good person,” and Carney said the conversation was “constructive.”
This is a big change from how Trump’s meetings with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau usually went — which were often tense and public.
Carney even brought Trump a gift — golf gear from Alberta’s Kananaskis Country Golf Course — and invited him to the upcoming G7 Summit in June.
Canada as the “51st State”?
One of the more spirited topics was Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada should become America’s 51st state. He’s mentioned it before, half-joking, and brought it up again this week.
Carney shut that idea down quickly: “Canada is not for sale. It won’t be for sale. Ever.”
Trump replied, “Never say never,” and added, “Time will tell.”
He also noted it would “take two to tango,” suggesting nothing would happen without Canada’s agreement.
Carney later told reporters he asked Trump to stop calling Canada the 51st state. He didn’t share how Trump responded.
Other Topics on the Table
Beyond trade, the two leaders also discussed major global issues — the war in Ukraine, Iran, border security, and fentanyl.
Trump reportedly appreciated Carney’s input, especially given his experience in global finance and policy.
While the meeting didn’t result in any deals, it avoided any major public disagreements. That alone was seen as a win by some observers.
Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said the meeting “showed momentum” and that both sides seemed open to working together.
What’s Next?
Carney said this was just the beginning and that more talks are coming.
He knows it won’t be easy, but said he’s hopeful that relations between the two countries can improve. “I feel better about the relations,” he told reporters.
Trump, on the other hand, stuck to his usual message: the U.S. gets a raw deal and needs better terms.
He again raised doubts about the USMCA trade deal and hinted it might need “subtle changes” — or maybe even be scrapped altogether.
He also downplayed the importance of trade with Canada, saying the U.S. doesn’t do much business with them compared to what Canada gets from us.
Carney disagreed, noting how important the U.S. market is for Canadian goods.
The Bottom Line
This wasn’t a flashy meeting. There were no handshakes on big agreements.
But it also wasn’t a fight. Both sides stood their ground without making things worse.
Trump made clear that he’s not easing off the tariffs anytime soon. And Carney, while polite, didn’t back down either.
He’s got a tough job ahead, trying to repair a strained trade relationship while also pushing back on talk of annexation.
Trump’s position hasn’t changed. He’s still negotiating like a businessman — firm, direct, and looking out for the bottom line.
Whether or not Carney can shift the deal in Canada’s favor remains to be seen. For now, both sides agreed to keep talking.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
