Prime Minister of Canada, the newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday on the context of disagreements and high tensions between the two North American neighbors.
A meeting between the leaders of Canada and the United States is generally not considered a confrontation with high issues, but there was little ordinary on this subject, after Trump spent months of writing Canada in 51st state.
It didn't take long for a journalist to wonder what was in everyone's mind – if Trump still wants to annex Canada. Trump expressed his continuous interest, characterizing the border between the two nations as a simple arbitrary demarcation.
The comments caused an immediate response to the Canadian leader who brought Trump, stressing that Canada “will never be for sale”. Trump raised his eyebrows and replied “never say”, to whom Carney put the words “never, never, never”.
The commitment gave an overview of the alteration by Trump of oval office meetings, passing by short and banal interactions to tense situations which frequently oblige foreign leaders to decide between appease or challenge the American president.
This method can be exhilarating for its supporters while creating instability for diplomats who are used to a more measured style of international diplomacy.
“There is no formula to face it,” said Daniel Mulhall, who was Ireland's ambassador to the United States during Trump's first term. He described the unpredictable behavior of the president as a “risk factor” and “an extraordinary gap of the standard”.
Carney's campaign was motivated by a wave of frustration towards Trump's aggressive rhetoric, and it was his opportunity to face the president directly to defend his country. He maintained courteous but assertive behavior.
It seems that Carney has found the right balance, at least according to Trump's prospect. At the end of the meeting, the American president said “I like this guy”.
Carney says he discussed a wide range of subjects with Trump, adding that despite the nature of the complex negotiations, they were nevertheless “constructive”.
Questioned by a journalist if there was something Carney could tell him to lift his prices up to 25% in Canada, Trump said next to it: “No” before emphasizing that the prices are there to stay until his requests are satisfied.
Shortly before Carney's arrival, Trump went to social networks to note that Washington does not need “nothing” of his neighbor in the North.
Trump argued that the United States was not interested in buying cars in Canada that they were assembled in the United States. He added that the $ 63 billion trade deficit in goods, which he exaggerated at $ 200 billion, was a subsidy that should be eliminated.
Carney recognized that no rhetorical about prices would influence Trump, declaring that “this is a wider conversation”.
“There are much larger forces,” said the Canadian chief. “And it will take some time and some discussions. And that is why we are here, to have these discussions.”
ADVERTISEMENTTrump added that the meeting with Carney had been “formidable” and that he thought that the current relationship would be “strong”.
Canada is the main export destination of 36 states in the United States, with nearly $ 2.7 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily. About 60% of crude oil and 85% of electricity imports in the United States come from Canada.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium in Washington, and has 34 minerals and crucial metals that the Pentagon is considering for national security purposes.
Canada is one of the most dependent nations in the world, with 77% of all its exports in the United States.
ADVERTISEMENTAdditional sources • AP
