(NewsNation) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asserted his country “won’t be for sale ever,” during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The two leaders marked their first face-to-face meeting since Canada’s election mainly with cooperation.
Carney reiterated a previous statement made on social media where he said, “Canada and the United States are strongest when we work together — and that work starts now.”
The Canadian leader said he is determined to “transform Canada” with a focus on economy and enhanced security on the border and in the Arctic.
Carney said that change will come from partnership with the U.S. and Trump, who he called a “transformational president.”
Canada’s Carney, Trump address 51st state comments
But he did draw a line when it came to Trump’s repeated calls to make Canada the 51st state.
“I believe it would be a massive tax cut for the Canadian citizens … there would be a lot of advantages,” Trump said, adding that the topic would not come up in discussion “unless somebody wants to discuss it,” referring to Carney.
“Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign over the last several months, it’s not for sale,” Carney said. “It won’t be for sale, ever. But the opportunity is in the partnership and what we can build together.”
A recent YouGov poll found that more than 60% of Canadians currently consider the U.S. an enemy or unfriendly.
US-Canada tariff tensions
The pair’s call for teamwork was underscored by tension from Trump’s unrelenting tariff threats. When asked about his ongoing worldwide levies, Trump said the United States needs the tariffs to prevent being “ripped off.”
“We don’t have to sign deals. We can sign 25 deals right now, Howard [Lutnick], if we wanted,” Trump said. “They have to sign deals with us. They want a piece of our market.”
Canada has long served as a top trading partner for the U.S.
During the Oval Office talk, Trump claimed the U.S. doesn’t do a lot of business with Canada: “They do a lot of business with us.”
Last year, Canada was the top destination for American exports, resulting in more than $750 billion in trade for the U.S. In return, Canada is the third-largest source of U.S. imports.
Carney clarified that there is not one specific industry or trade relationship that needs to change within the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
“This is a bigger discussion. There are much bigger forces involved. And this will take some time and some discussions,” Carney said. “And that’s why we’re here, to have those discussions.”
The White House visit comes amid an expected update from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on where international trade deals stand.