Trump signals optimism on US-Canada trade deal

Canada’s prime minister kicks off opening day with a 70-minute meeting with the president.
By Nick Taylor-Vaisey
06/16/2025 POLITICO

KANANASKIS, Alberta — U.S. President Donald Trump sounds keen to cut a trade deal with Canada, based on his remarks during a high-stakes bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 leaders summit.

“We’ve developed a very good relationship,” he told reporters. “We have a very talented group of people, and you do too. They work very well together.”

Trump said working toward a deal is a top priority for his administration in Kananaskis. “Our primary focus will be trade, and trade with Canada. And I’m sure we can work something out,” he said.

Trump and Carney met for a total of 70 minutes Monday morning — including 30 minutes with no staff in the room.

Carney offered brief opening remarks before the bilat, then remained mostly silent as the president riffed on Russia’s expulsion from the G7, the Iran-Israel conflict in the Middle East and trade negotiations with Canada.

Asked about sticking points, Trump spoke only vaguely about each side’s philosophical differences. “It’s not so much holding up. I think we have different concepts. I have a tariff concept. Mark has a different concept, which is something that some people like.”

He went on: “We’re gonna see if we can get to the bottom of it today. I’m a tariff person. I’ve always been a tariff person. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s precise, and it just goes very quickly.”

Still, he acknowledged Carney’s pushback against tariffs that are pummeling some sectors. “I think Mark has a more complex idea, but also very good. So we’re gonna look at both, and we’re gonna come out with something, hopefully.”

Trump’s top economic advisers are at the Alberta summit. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett joined the American delegation.

On the Canadian side, Carney is backed up by Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Ambassador to the U.S Kirsten Hillman, senior advisers Scott Gilmore and Lisa Jørgensen, and policy director Tim Krupa.