Donald Trump shows Canada’s new prime minister his cold shoulder

Before visiting the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, US President Donald Trump commented on the upcoming meeting. “I don’t know why he wants to see me,” Trump said when asked by a journalist, what he was expecting from the conversation on Tuesday. “But I guess he wants to do a deal. Everyone wants that,” the Republican continued.

Trump is likely to hire the negotiations in the customs dispute – he had recently imposed high tariffs on goods from northern neighboring country.

According to Carney, the meeting should be about the “trade and security relationships between our two sovereign nations”. Trump, on the other hand, tried to give the impression that he didn’t really know about the upcoming appointment.

Carney’s liberal party had won the parliamentary election in Canada last week due to his sharp anti-trump course with a clear lead. The new prime minister described Canada’s tense relationship with the United States as his “first priority”. “It is important to get involved immediately, that was always my intention,” said Carney. He expects “difficult but constructive discussions”. “I will fight for the best deal for Canada and will only accept the best deal.”

The traditional friendly relationships between neighboring countries had drastically deteriorated in January with Trump’s taking office in January. The US President pursues an aggressive customs policy towards the northern neighbor.

In the past, Trump has repeatedly demanded that Canada be part of the United States and described the country as 51st state. Trump had triggered great outrage with his encores. In a TV interview at the weekend, he made it clear that military violence was not an option for him. “I don’t think we will ever get to this point,” said the Republican.