Carney and Trump to Discuss Trade Amid FIFA Event

Post by : Mina Rahman

Prime Minister Mark Carney will engage in a brief discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump this Friday in Washington, shortly after Trump hinted at a potential U.S. exit from the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).

This meeting coincides with the FIFA World Cup draw at Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Carney is also scheduled to have a short interaction with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The trio of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The upcoming draw will identify group placements for participating nations and is anticipated to run for around two hours. However, Carney has tempered expectations, indicating that significant trade advancements are unlikely during this public gathering.

Trade discussions between Canada and the U.S. have stagnated since October 23, when the U.S. terminated talks citing complaints from an Ontario government advertisement regarding protective tariffs. The last direct interaction between Carney and Trump occurred during a private dinner in South Korea surrounding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which did not generate meaningful results.

Currently, a required review of the USMCA is taking place in all three nations. On Wednesday, Trump indicated that the U.S. might let the agreement lapse or seek to negotiate a new arrangement. Brian Clow, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressed doubts regarding the review process, emphasizing that the Trump administration appears more inclined towards unilateral actions rather than collaborative benefits, complicating negotiations for Canada and Mexico.