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Donald Trump described a long-awaited call with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney as “extremely productive” amid a trade war between the two nations launched by the US president.
The Friday morning call, requested by the White House, marks the first time the two leaders have spoken since Carney became prime minister on 14 March.
In a post on social media Trump took a decidedly softer tone than he has in recent months, correctly referring to Carney as prime minister after repeatedly denigrating his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, as “governor”.
Carney had previously said he would not speak with the president until Trump showed respect for Canada’s independence.
“I’m available for a call, but we’re going to talk on our terms. As a sovereign country – not as what he pretends we are – and on a comprehensive deal,” Carney said earlier this week.
Trump said in the post that he and Carney, who previously served as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, “agree on many things” and that the pair would be meeting “immediately” after Canada’s federal election on 28 April.
On Sunday, Carney called a snap election following numerous polls that show a dramatic and unprecedented surge for his Liberal party. Current projections have the Liberals winning a majority government, a stark reversal from their dismal fortunes as recently as late February.
Ahead of the call with Trump, Carney told reporters the conversation would be “only the beginning of a negotiation, not the end”.
In fiery rhetoric since Trump launched his trade war and began threatening to make Canada the 51st US state, the prime minister lamented the collapse of relations between the two nations.
“It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner. It is possible that, with comprehensive negotiations, we will be able to restore some trust, but there will be no turning back,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa earlier.
“We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States,” he said. “We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere.”
Earlier this week, the White House unveiled 25% tariffs that threaten to destroy Canada’s auto sector. More than 1m cars and light trucks are manufactured in Canada for export to the US, as part of the multibillion-dollar industry. Washington also promised “reciprocal tariffs” against any levies imposed by trading partners in response that it feels are unfair to American consumers.
