Trump broke off negotiations with Canada. Prime Minister Carney: We will return when America is ready

Canada will return to talks with the US when the Americans are ready, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday, referring to the information that US President Donald Trump broke off trade negotiations with Canada. The Canadian prime minister flew to Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea on Friday.

Carney described the talks with the US so far as “detailed and constructive, on specific transactions, specific sectors, steel, aluminum, energy, progress has been made.”

“We are ready to get back to that point (…) when Americans are ready to get back to these discussions because it would be to the benefit of U.S. workers and Canadian workers and families in both of our countries,” Carney said.

Trump previously announced that all trade talks with Canada had been terminated because of an advertisement commissioned by the government of the Canadian province of Ontario. The ad included excerpts from a recording of former US President Ronald Reagan's statements criticizing tariffs. Reagan was a supporter of free trade and, in a recording used by the Ontario government, argued that tariffs caused job losses and trade wars.

“Due to their (Canadians – PAP) egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY CLOSED,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social media platform.

Carney, commenting on Trump's decisions, added that The Canadian government has for months emphasized the need to distinguish between what we can control and what we cannot control. “We cannot control U.S. trade policy. We see that policy has changed fundamentally,” Carney said, noting that this is the context of the government's talks with the U.S.

Carney pointed out that Canada can control what is happening in the country, including issues such as the budget that will be presented on November 4 and investments in nuclear energy, which the prime minister announced on Thursday. He emphasized that Canada can also have a significant impact on relations with other countries, including the “economic giants of Asia.” “This is the destination,” Carney added before leaving for Malaysia.

Trump is also expected to take part in the ASEAN and APEC summits, but Canadian media reported on Thursday that there is no confirmed Carney-Trump meeting, just as there is no information about the possible conclusion of Canada-US negotiations during the Asian meetings.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote on X Friday morning that “Canada and the U.S. are friends, neighbors and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew we are stronger together.” He also attached a link to the ad criticized by Trump in his post.

The ad drew criticism in Ontario because of its cost – C$75 million. In mid-October, Ford said he saw Reagan's speech and then told his staff to “take Ronald Reagan's words and hit the American people with them.” Ford was previously a Trump supporter and in February this year. Canadian media published Ford's statement that after Trump's victory, he was “100 percent happy that he won,” but then “the guy pulled out a knife and… stuck it into us.”

Media reported Thursday that the Canadian government will limit the number of cars Stellantis and GM can import into Canada duty-free. This is a reaction to the decision of these companies to end part of their production in Canada and move it to the USA.

On Wednesday, Carney said during a meeting with University of Ottawa students that the Canadian government will build a strong economy, support investment and double exports to countries other than the United States. He emphasized that USD 300 billion of additional trade is at stake. The Prime Minister added that many of Canada's former strengths, combined with strong economic ties with the US, “have become our weaknesses.”

In June this year Trump also announced the breakup of negotiations with Canada due to “poor treatment”, among others. technology companies and the dairy sector.

From Toronto Anna Lach (PAP)

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