The US president Donald Trump expressed his optimism to settle the commercial dispute with him Canada During his presence at the Summit of the Seven Group (G7), describing an agreement “feasible” in the coming weeks between the US and their northern neighbor.
“I think we have different perceptions. I have a perception of duties, “Trump said during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “Mark has a different perception, which is something that some people like, but we will see if we can come to the end of today.”
While Trump said he favored the duties because they are “simple” and “easy”, he showed a willingness to hear Carney’s proposal, who seeks to limit punitive tariffs to basic industries, such as steel, aluminum and cars. “I think Mark has a more complicated idea, but also very good,” Trump said. “So we’ll look at both and see what we will do.”
The leaders of some of the richest countries in the world face a duty barrel from Trump who threatens to harm their economies, as well as strong differences in how to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and handle a escalating battle between Israel and Iran.
The US president acknowledged that trade would be of great importance on the agenda, as other world leaders are pushing to secure duties agreements to reduce the higher duties that Trump has threatened in July. In recent weeks, Trump has appeared to downgrade the ongoing negotiations with commercial partners, implying that if he did not obtain appropriate agreements that he would impose unilaterally tariff rates.
Last week, Carney praised progress in talks between the US and Canada, but downgraded expectations for a quick deal. Countries have exchanged proposals at all levels with the latest discussions focusing on commercial rules on steel and aluminum, according to sources.
However, Trump today, when asked if an agreement could be reached in the coming days or weeks, responded affirmatively, saying that countries could achieve such an outcome. If leaders fail to reach an agreement, Carney has maintained the threat of retaliation after deciding not to increase the price for US products after the increase in Trump on the steel and aluminum tax and aluminum tax to 50%.
In addition to metal duties, Trump has also imposed duties on foreign construction vehicles and 25% duties on products from Canada and Mexico that do not comply with the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he negotiated during his first term. And the US president has threatened to import taxes to other major Canadian exports, such as timber and copper.
Trump also used at the meeting to protest that the G7 no longer includes Russia and said he was willing to integrate China into the financial forum. “I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in,” Trump said.
The president has long criticized former US President Barack Obama for the decision to expel Russia from the then G8, after Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea in 2014.
In the next question if it was open to China, the world’s second largest economy, in talks with the team, Trump said “is not a bad idea”. “I don’t mind that. If one wants to propose China’s entry, I think we recommend it, but you want to have people you can talk to, “he added.