Canada's incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney said today that he is ready to speak directly with United States (US) President Donald Trump about trade relations between the two countries.
"I am prepared to sit down with President Trump at the appropriate time," Carney said, adding that it must be done with "respect for Canadian sovereignty."
Carney expressed his desire to work towards establishing a "common and much more global approach to trade."
"Everyone will be better off when the world's greatest economic and security partnership is renewed and relaunched," said Carney, who was elected Liberal leader last weekend to replace Justin Trudeau.
Trump has threatened tariffs in recent months, and the 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum went into effect today. Canada is the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the United States.
Canada will retaliate by imposing 25 percent tariffs on 29,8 billion Canadian dollars (18 billion euros) of US imports. The measure takes effect tomorrow.
The insistence on "Canadian sovereignty" comes in the wake of Trump's earlier statements that Canada should become the 51st US state.
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