Prime Minister Carney (00:05):
Good afternoon, everyone. [French 00:00:09]
(00:22)
President Trump and I met today as leaders of two sovereign independent nations. And I want to thank the President and the members of his cabinet that attended for welcoming me and my colleagues to the White House and for our very constructive discussions. I conveyed to the President today what our countries have long proven to be true: that Canada and the United States are stronger when we work together. We can get a better deal for our workers, we can create more opportunities for our businesses, we can build stronger economies across North America when we work together. And really today marked the end of the beginning of a process of the United States and Canada redefining that relationship of working together. The question is how we will cooperate in the future, how we can build an economic and security relationship built on mutual respect, built on common interests, and that delivers transformational benefits to our economies?
(01:37)
We had what I would describe as wide-ranging and, as I said a moment ago, very constructive discussions. We agreed to have further conversations in the coming weeks and we are looking forward to meeting in person at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in Alberta.
(01:56)
Now, while that's going on, in Canada we will focus on what we can control. [French 00:02:07] We are going to reinforce our strength at home. We will reinforce Canada's security for an increasingly dangerous and divided world. We will transform our border security, our security in the Arctic, and our support for our allies. We'll build an economy that creates jobs, grows incomes, and withstands shocks with the fact the strongest economy in the G7, an economy that works for everyone. [French 00:02:48]
(03:13)
We are masters in our own home and we can give ourselves far more than any foreign government can ever take away. So now is the time to build, and based on the discussion today, to build at home and to build with our partners abroad, including the United States. [French 00:03:30] . Thank you very much and I look forward to your questions.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Thank you, Prime Minister. We'll now begin the press conference. We'll begin with questions from the traveling delegation. First question? [French 00:03:39]
Tonda MacCharles (03:39):
Good afternoon, Prime Minister. Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star. I was watching your face through the meeting in the Oval Office and I wondered what was going through your mind when the president talked about erasing the artificial border and how he criticized your predecessor in Madame Freeland.
Prime Minister Carney (03:58):
Well, thank you, I guess for your question, I'm glad that you couldn't tell what was going through my mind as that was going through. Look, with respect to the first point, the President has made known his wish about that issue for some time. I've been careful always to distinguish between wish and reality. I was clear there in the Oval Office as I've been clear throughout on behalf of Canadians that this is never going to happen. Canada's not for sale. It never will be for sale. Some things, as I said in the room, some things are never for sale and he agreed with that. So I distinguish between the two.
(04:45)
And then with respect to the importance of re-establishing a constructive relationship for negotiations of a partnership, of an economic and security partnership, which is what we were here for, I look forward not back. And I think we established a good basis today.
Tonda MacCharles (05:04):
What gives you specifically any indication that the President is willing to renegotiate a new trade deal with you and drop tariffs?
Prime Minister Carney (05:17):
Apart from the fact that he said that he would, he is willing to have that negotiation. I think that's the main thing. That doesn't mean, that doesn't presuppose the outcome of the negotiation. As I've emphasized it's a complex negotiation. There will be zigs and zags, difficult aspects to it. But the prospect is there. We discussed it in more detail. And as I said a moment ago we'll be following up both between officials but also he and I in the coming weeks. Thank you.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Prime Minister, [inaudible 00:06:40] CNN.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Sorry. There's a line. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
[French 00:05:51]
Prime Minister Carney (07:51):
[French 00:05:57]
Speaker 2 (07:51):
[French 00:08:05]
Joanna Smith (08:06):
Hi, Prime minister. Joanna Smith from The Logic. At one point during the meeting in the Oval Office, the President when talking about the tariffs and talking about a deal also made very clear that when it comes to autos his goal is to have car makers make them in the US and for the tariffs to not make it any economical sense be made in Canada anymore. Do you anticipate lifting tariffs on autos at any point? And what did you tell him in the room about that topic?
Prime Minister Carney (08:34):
Well, we had discussion about all the major issues in the room, so to speak, in the lunch afterwards, including autos. And specifically without going into the full details, the strategic position of the North American auto industry, or more specifically the Canadian-US auto industry versus foreign competition, including from Asia and how that could be enhanced. I and the Canadian government, and I would say the Canadian auto industry, I would say the auto industry as a whole is of the view that Canadian auto workers, Canadian auto companies, Canadian parts companies, Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum, all play an important role in enhancing the competitiveness of American auto companies. So we will continue to press that case and look for an arrangement that takes full advantage of it for the benefit of the United States, but of course from our perspective very much for the benefit of Canada.
Joanna Smith (09:33):
And what did he ask you about China in your closed-door meetings and what did you tell him?
Prime Minister Carney (09:39):
That's why they're closed-door. We had a wide-ranging discussion.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Next question. [inaudible 00:09:50].
Speaker 7 (09:46):
[French 00:09:54]
Prime Minister Carney (09:46):
[French 00:10:06].
Speaker 8 (09:46):
In English, please. Sir.
Prime Minister Carney (12:12):
Canada is stronger when we work together. As an Albertan I firmly believe that you can always ask a question but I know what I would respond, clearly.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Next question. [French 00:12:23]
Speaker 9 (12:23):
[French 00:12:42]
Prime Minister Carney (12:23):
[French 00:12:43]
Speaker 2 (12:23):
[French 00:13:21] Next question.
JP Tasker (13:24):
Good afternoon, Prime Minister. JP Tasker, CBC News. How are you?
Prime Minister Carney (13:27):
Hi. I'm well, thank you, JP. How are you?
Joanna Smith (13:29):
I'm good.
Prime Minister Carney (13:29):
Good.
Joanna Smith (13:30):
Do you feel better or worse about Canada-US relations after meeting with the President today?
Prime Minister Carney (13:38):
Look, it was a very constructive meeting. I feel better about the relations in the sense of … in many respects. One, the posture, if I can put it that way, or the positioning the President took towards us. Secondly, the breadth of discussion and how concrete the discussions were. These are the discussions you have when you're looking to find solutions as opposed to laying down terms, if you will. So I feel better about that.
(14:14)
And I would add one other thing which maybe isn't as obvious, so I should say it, which is that we also discussed a number of issues globally, geostrategically, if I can put it that way, where we have common interests, common concerns. And that of course is a sign of a broader and very healthy relationship.
(14:35)
Look, JP, we have a lot more work to do. I'm not trying to suggest at any respect that we can have one meeting and everything's changed. But now we are engaged and very fully engaged.
Ashley Burke (14:50):
Good afternoon, prime Minister, Ashley Burke, CBC News. What specifically did you say to President Trump about lifting tariffs on Canada? And based on your conversations, what do you think it would take to get those tariffs lifted and how long could it take?
Prime Minister Carney (15:02):
Well, I can't answer the second part of your question because we don't make that decision. But I've certainly pressed the case in a number of areas where we think the tariffs should be lifted. And specifically, I'll give an example with respect to the scourge of fentanyl and the considerable efforts that have been made at our border and behind the border in terms of raids as well. Huge investments in border personnel, in drone surveillance, Blackhawk surveillance. And then those are being reinforced as you would have seen during the campaign, commitments to another 2,000, in effect, 1,000 border guards through CBSA, another thousand RCMP, further efforts there.
(15:52)
And what we're seeing is huge results for this. Canada's contribution to this cross-border problem was always very small, but it's down by over 90% with the efforts and it is an absolute focus of the government. So that is an example of where we would see the case being very strong for the tariffs to be removed. We've made that case. We'll see where that goes.
(16:18)
In other areas, the tariffs are, in our view, not in the interests of American competitiveness and jobs. We have more work to do on making those cases on that. Thank you.
Speaker 14 (16:32):
[French 00:16:36]
Prime Minister Carney (16:32):
[French 00:16:41].
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Thank you. We'll have time for one last question and follow-up. [French 00:17:44]
Stephanie Taylor (17:46):
Hi, Prime Minister. Stephanie Taylor with The National Post. I heard you say there's a difference between the President's comments becoming the 51st state as a wish versus a reality. You told him that Canada was not for sale. But many Canadians are offended and deeply angered by the fact that he keeps repeating this comment. So have you asked the president to stop calling Canada the 51st state?
Prime Minister Carney (18:11):
Yes. Yes.
Stephanie Taylor (18:13):
When did you ask him?
Prime Minister Carney (18:13):
Today.
Stephanie Taylor (18:14):
Specifically what did you ask him?
Prime Minister Carney (18:16):
Exactly what you just said.
Stephanie Taylor (18:18):
What words did you use? How did you ask him?
Prime Minister Carney (18:20):
Look, I gave you an answer. I gave you an answer. Do you have a follow-up?
Speaker 16 (18:23):
What did he say? What was his answer?
Stephanie Taylor (18:26):
[French 00:18:26] What was his answer?
Prime Minister Carney (18:26):
Well, look, I don't know. He's the President, he's his own person. I would go back to showing the difference between a wish and a reality. We're very clear. I've been very clear publicly, consistently. I've been very clear in private, was clear again in the Oval Office, would be clear throughout. The President, he understands that we're having a negotiation between sovereign nations and that we will only pursue and accept a deal that's in the best interest of Canada not just in the short term, but in the medium and long term for Canada.
Speaker 17 (19:04):
[French 00:19:10]
Prime Minister Carney (19:04):
[French 00:19:11]
Speaker 2 (19:11):
The last question, sorry, just last question.
Prime Minister Carney (19:35):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Steph didn't take a follow-up. So last question, please. Thank you.
Vipal Monga (19:38):
This is Vipal Monga from the Wall Street Journal. Given what's happened with the USMCA and the tariffs that Canada is facing, how do you trust that the US right now is negotiating in good faith? And how do you trust the new deal you sign with them?
Prime Minister Carney (19:48):
We'll make that determination over the course of the negotiations. I mean, that's the bottom line on that. It's a process, you see. And I would emphasize the following, which is that we have been in the process as most would know of an election, and so this is the point at which a serious discussion begins. And so we had the President at his invitation, I'm here, he welcomed us. We had a very substantive, wide-ranging discussion with the President but in the presence of the Vice President, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and beyond. His Chief of Staff as well, now I'm in trouble. Stephen Miller. I think that covers it. That covers it? I hope so.
(20:44)
And we have some very specific things to follow up on and build out from that. And in any negotiation then you make a determination based on that. Also, part of what you make a determination based on is are the incentives aligned in the agreement that you get? And I think the lesson would be of this experience is to ensure that the incentives are aligned and durably so between the two countries. And that is a way that agreements are self-reinforcing. Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Prime Minister, this [inaudible 00:21:21] press conference. [French 00:21:24]
Prime Minister Carney (21:22):
[French 00:21:29]
