Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his upcoming visit to Washington for the FIFA World Cup draw next week, where he anticipates having discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney, however, tempered expectations for the trip following Trump’s abrupt halt to trade negotiations triggered by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s anti-tariff ad campaign invoking Ronald Reagan.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Carney emphasized the importance of negotiations resuming before significant developments can be expected. Despite the current pause in talks between the two countries, Carney highlighted that he frequently engages in conversations with Trump.
Carney clarified that his attendance at the draw is significant for Canada as it prepares to co-host the tournament with the U.S. and Mexico next year. While acknowledging his interactions with Trump, Carney stressed that he aims to avoid getting caught up in minor exchanges, emphasizing the need for substantive meetings and negotiations to drive progress.
Addressing recent interactions with Trump, Carney mentioned a brief conversation on Tuesday but dismissed it as not newsworthy when pressed for details by reporters. Following criticism for his response of “who cares?” at the G20 summit in South Africa regarding his last conversation with Trump, Carney admitted to a “poor choice of words.”
The scheduled meeting at the FIFA draw will not be the first time Carney and Trump share the same space post-trade negotiations fallout. After the talks ceased, they exchanged acknowledgments during a dinner toast before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea but did not engage in substantial dialogue.
Carney’s approach underscores the significance of productive negotiations between Canada and the U.S., with the FIFA event serving as a platform for potential discussions.