The best diplomat of Ottawa in Washington said that talks to negotiate all new agreements with the United States will prioritize the end of US President Donald Trump President price on Canadian exports.
The ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, said on Monday that initial negotiations with the Trump team will focus on lifting prices, as well as specific bilateral problems between Canada and the United States
“To face these prices and bring Canada into a position where we find stability in the commercial relationship, is our number one priority with the Americans,” said Hillman. “There is no discussion to have with the Americans without being on the table from the point of view of Canada. This is a starting point for us. ”
Trump also said that he wanted changes to the Canadian-Mexico Trade Agreement, called CUSMA. Hillman said that specific talks in the continental trade pact will take place separately on a later date.
Trump slapped Canada with 25% of economy levels in March, but not to part of the prices on imports in accordance with CUSMA a few days later. Canada is also struck by steel, aluminum and cars.
CUSMA was negotiated during the first Trump administration and some experts say that the prices were intended to shake Canada and Mexico before a compulsory exam next year.
Hillman said that during the week since Prime Minister Mark Carney met Trump at the White House, she spoke with the trade representative of the United States Jamieson Greer and the international trade minister Dominic Leblanc was in contact with the US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
“The process will now be to start these discussions in a serious and substantial way,” said Hillman.
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The President and Prime Minister both described the meeting as cordial and productive, eliminating the slate for bilateral talks that had been compromised by Trump’s repeated conversation to make Canada an American state.
While the president assured journalists from the oval office that he wanted to annex Canada, he softened his tone, saying: “It takes two to Tango.”
Hillman said that despite these comments, Trump told Carney several times in public and camera that it was an honor to speak to him. The Canadians were trying to reset the relationship with the White House and that Hillman said that Trump had set the tone for open communication lines and professionalism.
“They agreed to negotiate an agreement that works for both countries,” she said.
Trump said last Tuesday that Cusma was very effective and was “always very effective”. The president also described it as a “transitional agreement” and said that he no longer knew if he was “necessary”.
Carney said Canada was also trying to modify certain aspects of the continental trade pact. The Prime Minister underlined the national security law exemptions which allowed Trump to slam Canada with prices – which the president has linked to base -founding allegations concerning the generalized fentanyl traffic against the Canadian border.
For the moment, Hillman said, the priority is to work on negotiations between Canada and the United States on bilateral issues such as Arctic Security, Defense and the North border that do not necessarily integrate into CUSMA talks.
“The United States has been clear with us since the president took office that he is trying to have bilateral discussions with each country,” she said. “They are engaged in a bilateral discussion with Mexico now. Mexico is in town almost every week to talk to the Americans. ”
Trump took his trade war in the world in April with “reciprocal” prices. He traveled the most important prices a few hours later, setting up a universal tax of 10% for 90 days, which, according to him, would give countries time to conclude an agreement.
While other nations rush to find ways to manage the Trump administration, Hillman said that she had “all the expectations (Canada) can have the time we need with the administration to deal with our problems.”
“There is a strong signal of the higher level in this country that Canada is a priority,” she said. “It is not only because the president clearly wants this to be the case, but it is also because we are by far their greatest customer.”
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press