Washington (AP) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday in the oval office at a time when one of the most sustainable and friendly alliances in the world was fractured by Trump’s trade war and threats of annexation.
Carney second visit At the White House, comes from the next year examination of the free trade agreement, which is essential to the economy of Canada. More than 77% of Canada exports go to the United States
Trump’s conversation of make Canada the 51st state And His prices Canadians feel undeniable feeling of betrayal. Relations with the neighbor in southern Canada and the long -standing ally have not been worse.
“We have had ups and downs, but this is the lowest point in the relations I remember,” said Frank McKenna, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States and current TD Bank vice-president.
“Canadians are not being asked what to do. They just vote with their feet,” he said. “I speak of ordinary citizens every day who modify their holiday plans, and I speak to large companies that move from reward trips or business trips. There is a pure and simple rebellion. ”
There is afraid in Canada on what will happen The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Carney seeks to relieve certain prices specific to the sector, but expectations are low.
“Improvement of relations with the White House before the USMCA exam is certainly an objective of the trip, but the opposition parties and part of the Canadian public will criticize Prime Minister Carney if he does not reach progress on the tariff front at this stage,” said Daniel Béland, professor of political science at McGill University in Montreal.
Trump said on Monday that he planned that Carney wanted to use the meeting to discuss the business.
“I guess he will ask questions about the prices because many Canada companies move in in the United States,” a Republican, a republican, told journalists after signing a decree linked to Alaska. “He loses a lot of businesses in Canada.”
Carney said the USMCA, which is under examination in 2026, is an advantage for Canada at a time when it is clear that the United States has access to its market. Carney said that USMCA’s heart commitment means that more than 85% of Canadian-American trade continues to be priceless. He said that the average American rate on Canadian products is 5.6% and remains the lowest among all its business partners.
But Trump has sectoral prices on Canada, known as Prices for article 232who have an impact. There is 50% prices on steel and aluminum importsFor example.
McKenna said he heard Canada could get some steel and aluminum relief. “This could be 50% to 25% or accept quotas without a price to allow steel and aluminum to go through last year’s levels,” he said.
The links between the two countries are without parallel. About 2.5 billion dollars (almost $ 3.6 billion Canadian dollars) in goods and services cross the border every day. Canada is the main export destination for 36 US states. There is close cooperation in defense, border security and police, and a great overlap of culture, traditions and hobbies.
About 60% of US imports of crude oil comes from Canada and 85% of American electricity imports come from Canada.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium in the United States and has 34 minerals and critical metals that Pentagon is impatient and invests in national security.
“The larger price would be to obtain a mutual agreement to negotiate the free trade relationship as quickly as possible,” said McKenna. “If the United States were to threaten us with the notice of dismissal of six months, I think that would represent a deep cold throughout North America.”
