U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had a “nice conversation” with Canadian Finance Minister Mark Carney, describing the exchange as “positive” even as tensions remain high between Washington and Ottawa over ongoing trade disputes.
Speaking briefly to reporters outside the White House, Trump said both sides discussed “a few trade matters” and reaffirmed their commitment to keeping communication open. “I had a nice talk with Carney. We’ll see where things go, but it was good,” he told the press.
The remarks come amid renewed strain between the two countries after the U.S. imposed tariffs on certain Canadian goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Ottawa. Talks over a potential sectoral tariff agreement have been underway in recent weeks, though progress has been slow, with both sides accusing the other of being inflexible.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the conversation focused on stabilizing trade flows and addressing specific sectors affected by recent policy changes, including agriculture and energy. While the White House did not release details, sources in Ottawa said Carney emphasized Canada’s interest in a fair and balanced trade relationship that benefits both economies.
Analysts view Trump’s tone as a possible attempt to ease diplomatic tensions ahead of the upcoming APEC summit, where trade issues between North American partners are expected to take center stage.
Carney, who has been leading Canada’s trade outreach efforts, has not yet commented publicly on the discussion. However, government sources indicated that dialogue between the two administrations would continue “in the spirit of cooperation.”
Despite the polite exchange, observers caution that major breakthroughs are unlikely in the short term, as both governments face domestic pressures to defend their trade policies. Still, Trump’s remark that the talk was “nice” signals that channels of communication remain open, even in a climate of ongoing economic friction.