Washington (TDI): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday visited the White House for his first meeting with Donald Trump and bluntly told the US president that Canada would never be for sale.
Carney won the April 28 election on a slogan to stand up to Trump, who has imposed tariffs on some Canadian products and often threatening about annexing the country.
Trump stated that the two sides would not be discussing Canada becoming part of the US, but said it would be “a wonderful marriage,” according to Reuters.
Carney rejected the idea firmly. “Canada is not for sale, it won’t be for sale – ever,” he said.
Trump, whose tariff policy has rattled global markets, said he and Carney would exchange views on “tough points,” an allusion to the president’s belief that the US can do without Canadian products, a point that he highlighted during the Oval Office conversation.
Read More:Â Trump Pauses Tariffs on Mexico, Canada
“Regardless of anything, the US is going to be friend with Canada. Canada is a very special place to me,” Trump said, adding that the Washington would always protect Canada.
Carney’s Liberal Party promised voters it would create a new bilateral economic and security relationship with the US and diversify an economy heavily dependent on exports to the United States.
Read More:Â Trump to discuss tariffs with Canada, Mexico
Ahead of the visit, Carney rejected expectations of a breakthrough in the meeting. On the other side, when Trump was asked if Carney could say anything to persuade him to lift tariffs, he replied, “No.”
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
