US President Donald Trump today graciously received Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House and boasted of great progress in difficult trade negotiations, but did not offer any concrete concessions.
"I liked him (Carney) right away and we have a good relationship. We have a normal trade conflict, but we will probably resolve it," the US president said in the Oval Office.
While lavishly praising his guest, the Republican leader couldn't help but joke again about "merging" the two countries, a scenario he has mentioned several times and which Carney absolutely rejects.
"We will get a real deal" for Canada, Carney said, as the Trump administration's trade war has deeply disrupted bilateral relations and weakened the Canadian economy.
Like most foreign leaders hosted by Trump, whose behavior is unpredictable, Carney tried to cheer him up.
"I'm wearing red for you," joked the Canadian leader, who was wearing a red tie, as he shook hands with the American president, whose signature color is red.
Carney praised Trump's efforts to resolve several conflicts, a favorite topic of the Republican billionaire.
Unlike other major U.S. allies, including the European Union, Canada has not yet concluded a comprehensive trade agreement with its neighbor and major economic partner.
The stakes are high for Canada, whose 75 percent of exports go to its southern neighbor, and whose gross domestic product (GDP) fell by about 1,5 percent in the second quarter.
On the other hand, the US president sees himself in a position of strength. He has already imposed tariffs on Canadian lumber, aluminum, steel and autos. On Monday, he added tariffs on heavy-duty vehicles imported into the US, which will be taxed at a rate of 25 percent starting November 1.
And while the vast majority of trade remains protected by the USMCA – the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico – new trade negotiations between Canada and the United States are set to begin soon.
Bonus video:
