Canadian PM. and President Trump hold first call amid trade war

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump are reported to have had an “extremely productive” first call.

This call comes amid an ongoing trade war between the two neighbours.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said that the two will meet “immediately” after Canada’s upcoming elections on 28 April.

According to Trto discuss “politics, business, and all other factors”.

Carney, currently in the midst of an election campaign, described the call as “very constructive.”

He added that he told the president that Canada “will implement retaliatory tariffs to protect Canadian workers”.

Trump’s planned 25% tariffs on vehicle imports is to come into effect on 2 April, which could be devastating for the Canadian car industry.

Historically, Canadian leaders prioritise an early call with their US counterpart soon after becoming prime minister.

The call between Carney and Trump, however, is the first since the new prime minister took office on 14 March.

The Canadian prime minister’s office said the two leaders agreed to begin comprehensive negotiations.

Carney’s office says the negotiations will be about a new economic and security relationship immediately following the election.

According to a statement, the leaders agreed in the interim that conversations between:

• the Minister of International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs and,
• President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, Dominic LeBlanc, and,
• the United States Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, will intensify to address immediate concerns.

The US president’s tone on Friday stood in contrast to his past remarks about Canada, particularly his frequent jabs at Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, whom he mockingly referred to as “Governor Trudeau”.

In addition to imposing tariffs, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state.

But this is one idea that has sparked widespread backlash among Canadians.

On Thursday evening, Carney said the US was “no longer a reliable trading partner” and that Canada’s old relationship with the US “is over”.

Carney, who leads Canada’s Liberal Party, has vowed to impose retaliatory tariffs with “maximum impact” on the US.

On Friday, he conveyed the message once again to Trump, according to the statement from his office.

The statement said that the Prime Minister informed the President that his government will implement retaliatory tariffs to protect Canadian workers and their economy.

According to te statement, the decision follows the announcement of additional U.S. trade actions on April 2, 2025.

The US president’s proposed auto tariffs could impact as many as 500,000 jobs in the Canadian auto industry.

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