Carney says he spoke to Trump on Monday but doesn’t expect tariffs to be lifted in immediate future

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, but suggested it’s unlikely American tariffs, which are still causing pain for certain Canadian sectors, will be lifted in the immediate future.

The conversation lined up with when Canada lifted most of its counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, a move seen as a goodwill gesture as Carney’s government pushes for Trump to lift tariffs on industries including steel and aluminum.

The prime minister characterized his Monday talk with Trump as a good conversation.

We spoke at length on a wide range of issues, including on trade, but geopolitical, other issues, labour issues, et cetera, Carney said on his way into a meeting with his cabinet in the Greater Toronto Area.

Carney said his new clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Sabia, is in the U.S. capital to meet with American counterparts. Sabia joins a revolving door of officials, including senior cabinet members, who have travelled south to bend U.S. lawmakers’ ears.

Don’t expect immediate white smoke on one of these strategic sectors. But that’s the type of conversation that we’re having and will continue to have as well, said Carney of Sabia’s visit.

Historically, the Prime Minister’s Office releases summaries, known as readouts, when the prime minister speaks with world leaders. The PMO did not issue a readout of the Monday conversation.

Earlier this year, Canada placed counter-duties on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods, but removed them this week from goods that are covered by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the move yet another capitulation and climbdown by Mark Carney.

This article is republished from RCI.