Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada announced on Friday that he will meet with President Trump next week in a significant meeting between the leaders of two nations experiencing heightened tensions due to a trade war and threats to Canada’s sovereignty.
Additionally, Mr. Carney revealed that King Charles III will visit Canada later this month, marking his first trip since his coronation two years ago. This visit, confirmed by Buckingham Palace, is interpreted by analysts as a rebuff to Mr. Trump’s suggestion of making Canada the 51st state, reinforcing the King's role as Canada’s official head of state.
Mr. Carney, who previously led the central banks of England and Canada, recently guided the Liberal Party to victory in national elections where concerns about Mr. Trump’s tariffs and statehood remarks were prominent issues for voters.
In light of the Trump administration's aggressive stance towards Canada, Mr. Carney emphasized the necessity for Canada to negotiate new agreements with the United States covering various topics, including economic and security matters. “Our old relationship, based on steadily increasing integration, is over,” he stated during his first news conference post-election, highlighting the need for future cooperation.
Mr. Carney has invited King Charles to deliver a speech on May 27 to commence a new session of Canada’s Parliament, which he believes underscores Canada’s sovereignty. Traditionally, this speech is delivered by the governor general, representing the king in Canada.
He remarked, “This is a historic honor which matches the weight of our times,” noting that Queen Elizabeth was the last monarch to deliver such an address in 1977.
Throughout his campaign, Mr. Carney maintained that discussions of Canadian statehood would not be on the agenda during his meeting with Mr. Trump. “What the Canadian people clearly have stated, virtually without exception, is: This will never, ever happen,” he asserted, adding that statehood was not mentioned in a recent call between the two leaders.
Mr. Carney intends to address U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports, including those on vehicles, auto parts, steel, and aluminum, which threaten many jobs. He also plans to discuss military spending during the upcoming negotiations.
Describing the negotiations as complex, he acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “I’m not pretending those discussions will be easy. They won’t proceed in a straight line. There will be zigs and zags, ups and downs.”
Mr. Carney highlighted the immediate impact of Mr. Trump’s tariffs, citing General Motors' announcement of reduced production at a pickup-truck assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario, which is expected to result in approximately 2,200 job losses due to the elimination of one shift.
Stellantis also reported a temporary closure of its Windsor, Ontario plant for an additional week following the implementation of auto tariffs, affecting around 3,500 workers. In response to these tariffs, Mr. Carney has enacted retaliatory tariffs on vehicles imported from the United States.