Hints of positivity for Canada as ‘complicated’ trade talks continuepublished at 19:08 BST
19:08 BST
Nadine Yousif
Senior Canada reporter
President Trump spoke of “mutual love” between Canada
and the US in the Oval Office earlier, saying that the “people of Canada
will love us again” once details of a trade deal between the two countries
are revealed.
So far, those details remain vague, but there were some hints of
positivity today.
First, Trump acknowledged that trade talks with Canada are
“more complicated than maybe any other agreement” the US has with
other nations, in part because of the two countries’ competing business
interests and geographical proximity.
He said, however, that he wants “Canada to do well,”
in specific reference to the auto manufacturing sector.
Trump also appeared pleased with Canada’s record so far on
fentanyl trafficking, saying the country has “worked hard and they’ve done
a much better job than in the past.”
Fentanyl has been used as justification for the steep 35%
tariffs imposed on Canadian goods not covered by the North American Free Trade Agreement.
It is unclear if any deal will be reached today, and both US and
Canadian officials have played down expectations of a breakthrough.
But the upbeat mood between the two leaders suggests that Canada
and the US are closer than they were some weeks ago to working out their
differences.
We’re ending our live coverage of Carney’s visit to the White
House now, but you can read more in our news story.