Prime Minister
Mark Carney
met U.S. President
Donald Trump
in particular person for the primary time on the Oval Workplace on Tuesday. Carney arrived at about 11:55 a.m. and was greeted by Trump with a handshake, after which they each raised a fist to the cameras.
The assembly lasted for about half-hour, after which they moved to a non-public working luncheon with their groups within the Cupboard Room. Right here’s a few of what was mentioned in entrance of the press.
Trump introduces Carney to the press
Just a few days in the past, he received a really large election in Canada, and I believe I used to be in all probability the best factor that occurred to him. His occasion was dropping by so much, and he ended up profitable. So I actually wish to congratulate him, in all probability one of many biggest comebacks within the historical past of politics, perhaps even better than mine.
Trump on the Canadian election
I believe Canada selected a really proficient particular person, an excellent particular person. As a result of we spoke earlier than the election fairly just a few instances. And it’s an honour to have you ever on the White Home and the Oval Workplace…. However I simply wish to congratulate you. You ran a extremely nice race. I watched the controversy and I believed you had been glorious. And I believe we’ve got loads of issues in widespread. Now we have some robust factors to go over and that’ll be effective.
Carney’s response
Thanks to your hospitality, and above all to your management. You’re a transformational president, give attention to the economic system with a relentless give attention to the American employee, securing your borders, ending the scourge of fentanyl and different opioids, and securing the world…. The historical past of Canada and the U.S. is we’re stronger once we work collectively, and there’s many alternatives to work collectively and I sit up for addressing a few of these points that we’ve got but additionally discovering these areas of mutual co-operation so we will transfer ahead.
Trump on Carney’s victory within the election
I’ve loads of respect for this man, and I watched him come up primarily by way of the ranks when he wasn’t given a lot of an opportunity. And he did. He ran a extremely nice marketing campaign. He did a extremely nice debate. I believe that debate was very useful.
Trump on Canada
We’re going to be buddies with Canada. No matter something, we’re going to be buddies with Canada. Canada is a really particular place to me. I do know so many individuals that stay in Canada. My dad and mom had relations that lived in Canada, my mom specifically. And no, I like Canada, I’ve loads of respect for the Canadians. Wayne Gretzky, I imply, how good — the Nice One.
Trump on Canada because the 51st state
I nonetheless consider that. However, you recognize, takes two to tango, proper? However, no, I do. I imply, I consider it will be an enormous tax lower for the Canadian residents. You get free army, get large medical cares and different issues. There could be loads of benefits, however it will be an enormous tax lower, and it’s additionally an attractive — you recognize, as an actual property developer, you recognize, I’m an actual property developer at coronary heart, while you do away with that artificially drawn line — any person drew that line a few years in the past, like a ruler, only a straight line proper throughout the highest of the nation. Once you take a look at that stunning formation, when it’s collectively, I’m a really inventive particular person. However after I checked out that, I mentioned, that’s the way in which it was meant to be. I do really feel it’s significantly better for Canada. However we’re not going to be discussing that until somebody needs to debate it.
Carney weighs in
As you recognize from actual property, there are some locations which are by no means on the market. We’re sitting in a single proper now. Buckingham Palace that you just visited as effectively. And having met with the homeowners of Canada over the course of the marketing campaign, final a number of months, it’s not on the market. Received’t be on the market, ever.
Trump’s response
Time will inform. It’s solely time. However I say by no means say by no means. I’ve had many, many issues that weren’t doable, and so they ended up being doable and solely doable in a really pleasant approach. But when it’s to all people’s profit, you recognize, Canada loves us and we love Canada, that’s, I believe the No. 1 factor that’s necessary, however we’ll see. Over time, we’ll see what occurs.
Trump on commerce offers
We don’t must signal offers. They must signal offers with us. They need a chunk of our market. We don’t need a piece of their market. We don’t care about their market…. Consider us as an excellent luxurious retailer, a retailer that has the products. You’re going to come back and also you’re going to pay a value, and we’re going to present you an excellent value. We’re going to make superb offers, and in some circumstances, we’ll alter, however that’s the place it’s. And we’ve been ripped off by all people for 50 years, and we’re simply not going to try this anymore. We are able to’t try this, and we will’t let any nation try this to us. We’re simply not going to do it anymore.
Trump on the USMCA
I received’t say this about Mark, however I didn’t like his predecessor. I didn’t like an individual that labored — she was horrible, really, she was a horrible particular person, and she or he actually damage that deal very badly, as a result of she tried to benefit from the deal, and she or he didn’t get away with it. You already know who I’m speaking about (Chrystia Freeland)…. We do have a negotiation arising over the subsequent yr or so, to regulate it or terminate it.
Carney’s response
I’ll say a phrase on USMCA, if I could, Mr. President. It’s a foundation for a broader negotiation. Some issues about it are going to have to vary. And a part of the way in which you’ve performed these tariffs has taken benefit of current elements of USMCA. So it’s going to have to vary. There’s different components which are coming, and that’s a part of what we’re going to debate.
Trump on commerce with Canada
We don’t a lot enterprise with Canada, from our standpoint. They do loads of enterprise with us.
Trump’s on whether or not Carney might say one thing to vary his thoughts on tariffs
No. Simply the way in which it’s.
On whether or not he would respect Canada’s refusal to be the 51st state
Positive I’d. However this isn’t essentially a one-day deal. That is over a time frame they must make that call.
Carney’s response to each these questions
Respectfully, Canadians view on this isn’t going to vary, on the 51st state. Secondly, we’re the most important consumer of america within the totality of all the products. So we’re the most important consumer of america. Now we have an incredible auto sector between the 2 of us, and the modifications which were made have been useful. You already know, 50 per cent of a automotive that comes from Canada is American. That’s not like anyplace else on the earth. And to your query about is there one factor? No, this can be a larger dialogue. There are a lot larger forces concerned. And this may take a while and a few discussions, and that’s why we’re right here.
Trump’s reply
This can be a very pleasant dialog, however we wish to make our personal vehicles. We don’t really need vehicles from Canada, and we put tariffs on vehicles from Canada, and at a sure level it received’t make financial sense for Canada to construct these vehicles. And we don’t need metal from Canada as a result of we’re making our personal metal.
Trump’s last phrase
We defend Canada militarily, and we at all times will. That’s not a cash factor, however we at all times will. However, you recognize, it’s not honest. However why are we subsidizing Canada $200 billion a yr, or regardless of the quantity is likely to be, it’s a really substantial quantity. And it’s laborious for the American taxpayer to say gee whiz we love doing that. Thanks very a lot.
Carney describes Trump as a ‘transformational president’ in first assembly in D.C.
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