Prime Minister (PM) Carney and President Trump had their first in-person meeting on May 6, 2025, at the White House. The meeting included a press conference in the Oval Office and a closed-door lunch. PM Carney hosted a press conference following the meeting where he characterized it as positive and constructive. The following topics were discussed:
CUSMA: Both PM Carney and President Trump agreed that CUSMA was an important transitional agreement but requires updating during the 2026 Review.
Tariffs and Trade: President Trump stated that he wants to be “friends with Canada”; however, there is no indication that President Trump will lift the tariffs levied on Canada in the short term.
Autos: President Trump stated that he wants to produce autos domestically, noting Canada shares this goal. PM Carney reaffirmed that the Canadian auto sector plays a role in enhancing the competitiveness of the American industry, and that he will look for an agreement that benefits both parties.
51st State Rhetoric: In the Oval Office President Trump made comments about Canada
becoming the 51st State, which PM Carney rebutted. PM Carney asked President Trump to stop calling Canada the “51st State” during their private lunch.
Canadian Economy: PM Carney stated that Canada will continue to build strong infrastructure for Canadian businesses, emphasizing the importance of removing interprovincial trade barriers.
Future US-CAN Meetings
- PM Carney hosted a First Ministers’ Meeting on May 7, 2025, to discuss the White House meeting and next steps for Canada.
- PM Carney will host an in person First Minister’s Meeting on June 2, 2025 in Saskatchewan.
- PM Carney and President Trump plan to meet at the G7 Conference hosted in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15-17, 2025.
Trade Agreements and Negotiations
UK-US Trade Agreement:
- On May 8, President Trump announced via a press conference in the Oval Office that the US and UK had reached a trade agreement which he expects to be a conclusive trade agreement with a large economic security component. UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, stated that the countries are still “hammering out the details”.
- A 10% tariff rate, as announced on April 2, will remain in effect with a carve out for tariffs on UK autos. During the press conference, President Trump hinted that the agreement would be beneficial to the tech and agriculture sectors in both countries.
- US Ambassador to Canada, Peter Hoekstra, noted that the UK-US agreement could serve as a template for a deal between Canada and the U.S, especially in terms of how the U.S. sought and received greater market access for its beef products.
China-US Negotiations:
- President Trump stated during a press conference that Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, will be going to Switzerland this weekend to negotiate with China. President Trump anticipates that these discussions will be substantive.
