Carney Signals Progress in U.S. Trade Negotiations Ahead of Midterms

TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday he held a constructive conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a potential trade agreement, adding that negotiators will continue working in the coming weeks toward a deal. The remarks signal renewed momentum in a bitter trade dispute just days before the U.S. midterm elections.

Carney noted that the discussion expanded on recent talks about the framework of a deal designed to create jobs, reduce costs for families, and safeguard Canada’s languages, culture, and sovereignty.

“Our teams will now be working in the coming weeks to deliver that outcome,” Carney wrote on social media.

The optimistic assessment represents a shift from August, when Canada withdrew from negotiations after rejecting U.S. demands that Carney said threatened Canadian sovereignty, French-language protections, and the auto industry. In response, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, prompting Canadian countermeasures.

Negotiations have since resumed, though progress has been inconsistent. Last week, Carney said talks had intensified slightly and maintained that any movement toward an agreement resulted from Washington moving closer to Canada’s position.

As recently as Wednesday, Carney stated that the two countries were not yet positioned to reach a deal before Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The sides have discussed potential relief from U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and automobiles, though no specifics of a possible agreement have been announced.

Trump’s trade conflict with Canada has become a factor in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, especially in Michigan and Maine, where Republican candidates have faced pressure over tariffs harming local businesses. Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has called for an end to the tariff war.

The trade dispute and Trump’s repeated threats to make Canada the 51st U.S. state have driven Carney to pursue new markets. Canada and the European Union launched a new economic and security alliance Friday as Carney works toward a goal of doubling Canadian exports outside the United States over the next decade.

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