Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media on November 1 that he had a 'productive conversation' with US President Trump about the future of Canada-US trade.
Carney said the conversation built on recent constructive communication and aimed to explore a framework for a mutually beneficial trade agreement that would create jobs for workers in both countries, lower household costs, and fully respect Canadian sovereignty.
He said both teams will work closely on the trade agreement in the coming weeks.
Trump told reporters the same day that he spoke with Carney by phone on October 31 and that the two sides had formed a preliminary concept of a trade deal, with an agreement possible soon. He again complained that the US has 'been losing money' on trade with Canada 'for 70, 75 years'.
Trump previously threatened to make Canada the '51st state' and sharply raise tariffs on Canadian goods. The most recent round of US-Canada trade talks collapsed in August, and relations have remained strained.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand said on October 31 that Canada is pursuing 'middle-power diplomacy', seeking to strengthen trade and security ties with partners beyond the US to reduce one-sided dependence, aiming to double Canada's trade with non-US markets within ten years.
