Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump opened their first in‑person meeting Tuesday with a brisk handshake outside the Oval Office, then shifted to a lively joint press conference that set the tone for a new chapter in Canada-US relations. Moments earlier, Trump had used Truth Social to accuse Ottawa of taking “$200 billion” a year in US subsidies and enjoying “FREE Military Protection,” adding that America needs “NONE” of Canada’s cars, energy, or lumber. .Trump approached the idea of Canada as the fifty-first state, and Carney quickly responded.Carney tells reporters, “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale. The White House and Buckingham Palace aren’t,” and Canada is “not for sale, it won’t be for sale, ever.”“Never say never,” Trump responds.Carney smiles and mouths “never, never, never.”.Trump then revisited old grievances with Carney’s predecessors. Without naming former prime minister Justin Trudeau, he said he “didn’t like” the previous Liberal leader and singled out Chrystia Freeland as “terrible” for trying to “take advantage” during 2018’s USMCA talks. “We have a negotiation coming up over the next year or so to adjust it or terminate it,” said Trump.Trump hinted that existing 25% import duties on some Canadian products may stay until “fair” trade terms are reached. Trump repeated his belief that Canada benefits more from USMCA than the US. .Carney called the USMCA “a useful foundation, but only a starting point.” Carney argued that Trump’s tariff strategy has “exploited gaps” in the USMCA and promised to push for updates to the trade agreement. “Some things about it must change, and that’s part of what we are going to discuss,” said Carney.Both leaders tried to find common ground, announcing a bilateral working group to study cross‑border supply chains and a pledge to hold cabinet‑level talks on Arctic defence and irregular migration..Carney addressed the media at the Embassy of Canada to the United States following the meeting with President Donald Trump."Stronger together" and "redefining our relationship," Carney told the media."I've been clear, Canada is not for sale.”"We are negotiating an economic and security partnership,” said Carney.“There'll be zigs and zags, difficult aspects to it."Carney spoke with Trump about the "strategic position of the North American auto industry and, more specifically, the Canadian-US auto industry versus foreign competition, including from Asia.""We're having a very complex negotiation about a wide range of issues, as I said before I came here. I wouldn't have expected white smoke coming out of this meeting," said Carney."This is the point at which serious discussions begin.”
