US President Donald Trump has said there is 'natural conflict' between the United States and Canada, even as he expressed mutual affection for the country during a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The meeting comes as relations between the longtime allies have been strained by Trump's trade war and annexation threats.
Trump praised Carney as a 'world-class leader' and a tough negotiator, a marked contrast to his treatment of Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau. However, the US president offered few concrete concessions on steep tariffs, instead suggesting the possibility of renegotiating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is up for review next year, or pursuing separate deals.
'We have natural conflict,' Trump said. 'We also have mutual love.' He added that while there are areas of competition, there are more areas where the two countries are stronger together. Carney's second visit to the US aims to address trade issues, but expectations for tariff relief remain low.
Frank McKenna, a former Canadian ambassador to the US, described the state of relations as the worst ever, noting a 'rebellion' among Canadians changing travel plans and businesses moving trips away. Political analyst Daniel Béland said that while improving relations ahead of the USMCA review is a key objective, Carney may face criticism if he fails to achieve progress on tariffs.
