Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his upcoming trip to Washington to attend the FIFA World Cup draw and mentioned that he anticipates meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the event. However, he tempered expectations for the visit, which follows Trump’s abrupt halt to trade discussions triggered by an anti-tariff ad campaign by Ontario Premier Doug Ford referencing Ronald Reagan.
Carney emphasized the importance of the draw for Canada, as the country is co-hosting the tournament with the U.S. and Mexico next year. Despite the paused talks between the two nations, Carney revealed that he frequently converses with Trump but stressed that not every exchange is of significance.
The Prime Minister clarified that discussions and negotiations of substance take precedence over minor interactions. He cited a recent brief conversation with Trump, dismissing it as not newsworthy when pressed for details by reporters.
Acknowledging previous criticism for his response of “who cares?” regarding his last conversation with Trump at the G20 summit, Carney admitted to using a “poor choice of words.” The upcoming meeting at the FIFA draw will not be the first encounter between Trump and Carney post the trade talk breakdown, as they exchanged acknowledgments at a pre-summit dinner in South Korea without engaging in substantial dialogue.
Carney’s trip to Washington for the FIFA event signifies a potential opportunity for discussions between the two leaders, despite the current standstill in formal negotiations.