Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump have committed to finalizing a new trade agreement within 30 days, aiming to resolve long-standing tariff tensions between the two countries. The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where the two leaders discussed economic cooperation in a 70-minute session, including a 30-minute one-on-one conversation.
This is the first time either side has set a firm timeline to resolve trade irritants, signaling a renewed urgency after months of friction. “We agreed to pursue negotiations toward a deal within the coming 30 days,” Carney wrote on social media following the meeting. Trump echoed the sentiment, saying, “I think we’re going to accomplish a lot,” though he reaffirmed his preference for tariffs, calling them “simple, easy, and precise.”
Carney, who has consistently advocated for a more strategic and cooperative trade model, reportedly presented a “more complex idea” during the talks. While the details of Canada’s proposal remain undisclosed, U.S. officials acknowledged progress, with Trump wearing a symbolic Canada-U.S. friendship lapel pin during the meeting — a rare gesture not provided by Canadian protocol.
The talks were led by Carney and Trump but also included senior officials such as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Ambassador Kirsten Hillman also met with their U.S. counterparts following the leaders’ meeting. Hillman said momentum has picked up, but emphasized that significant work remains to convince Trump to ease or eliminate tariffs. “Our position is that we should have no tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States,” she said.
The renewed dialogue comes in the wake of Trump’s decision earlier this month to double tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports from 25 to 50 percent — a move Carney previously condemned as “illogical” and “unjustified.” However, Canada held off on retaliatory measures to keep trade talks on track.
Despite his early exit from the summit to return to Washington amid escalating Middle East tensions, Trump left on a positive note regarding Canada. He praised his relationship with Carney, calling it “very good,” and signaled optimism about achieving a deal that benefits both economies.
During the summit’s opening session, Carney described the current global landscape as a “turning point in history,” and urged leaders to cooperate in building resilience against geopolitical and economic shocks. He acknowledged disagreements around the G7 table, particularly with Trump, but expressed hope that unity on shared interests like trade and security could yield real progress.
Trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. will continue in the coming weeks under an accelerated timeline. If successful, the deal could mark a critical breakthrough in stabilizing one of the world’s most important economic partnerships.
