BANFF — Canadian officials said Monday that early G7 conversations between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump showed promise on the trade file. Canada’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc and Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman told media that though progress has been made, ongoing global instability continues to impact discussions. LeBlanc described the bilateral meeting between Carney and Trump as “long and substantive,” with trade and tariffs dominating the conversation. LeBlanc, responsible for Canada-US trade relations, said both sides believed they had moved the conversation forward.“I’m confident we made progress,” LeBlanc told reporters, noting that after the initial leader-to-leader discussion, senior officials from both delegations reconvened to continue negotiations elsewhere on-site.The PMO later put out a statement that it hoped an agreement could be reached within 30 days..LIVE BLOG G7 DAY 2: Trump leaving summit early due to escalating conflict in Middle East.LeBlanc said the discussions at the summit are part of a longer arc of dialogue between the two countries. Monday’s bilateral meeting builds on work that began at the White House in May, and further technical talks are already scheduled.“What was said today is an extension of an ongoing conversation that the leaders began when we were at the White House,” he said.“We’ve also agreed with the Americans not to discuss the details of these conversations — the inevitable back and forth around different ideas and different scenarios.”While careful not to overstate the development of ongoing negotiations, LeBlanc said both sides believe progress is being made toward a deal that would be mutually beneficial, but acknowledged that there is still work ahead.“We collectively think we're making progress in coming to a deal that would be in the economic interest of both countries — but we’re not there yet,” he said..UPDATED: ‘It’s achievable’ — Trump, Carney could reach trade deal within days.LeBlanc, Hillman and US Trade Representative Ambassador Greer, alongside other American officials, agreed to meet again later in the week to continue advancing the file.Hillman, Canada’s top diplomat in Washington, underscored the value of having Carney and Trump meet early in the summit. While trade remained a dominant issue, she said the broader G7 context also mattered, especially given the weight Trump carries in shaping today’s geopolitical dynamics.“I would say that we feel that it's very important for the prime minister to be here with the president at this G7 meeting,” Hillman said.“We talked a lot about trade... but it's also important, as the prime minister has said, to convene the leaders of the world who have an opportunity to have an influence on some of the most difficult issues that are happening across the globe right now, together.”She described Trump as “one of the most influential” figures in current global affairs and said the bilateral meeting was an important chance for Carney to exchange views with the US president ahead of broader G7 sessions.Hillman emphasized that the pre-summit conversation allowed the prime minister to get clarity on the positions the US may bring to discussions with the other leaders, setting the stage for more coordinated diplomacy.The tone from both officials was one of cautious optimism — suggesting momentum on trade but also a recognition of the challenges ahead, particularly as geopolitical flashpoints from the Middle East to Ukraine remain part of the wider summit agenda.
