WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump signaled uncertainty Sunday about whether stalled trade talks with Canada will resume, offering only a cautious “we’ll see” when pressed on the future of negotiations halted earlier this year.
Speaking with reporters outside the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors gala, Trump weighed in on the ongoing trade dispute, insisting he maintains a strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney even as he criticized Canada’s manufacturing output. “Canada makes a lot of things we don’t need because we make them also,” he said, before adding, “We’ll work it out.”
Trump abruptly ended trade discussions in October after an Ontario-sponsored advertisement resurfaced a Ronald Reagan quote criticizing tariffs, sparking irritation in Washington. Sunday’s remarks marked one of the clearest signs yet of the president’s mixed posture heading into a pivotal year for continental trade.
Despite the tensions, Trump and Carney appeared cordial on Friday during the FIFA World Cup draw, where they sat alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum before holding a private meeting. “We spoke for a half-hour. Very good, very productive. Mostly trade,” Trump said afterward. “They’re very tough traders, but I have a very good relationship with the prime minister and with Canada. Canada is a special place — and they really are good at ice hockey, aren’t they?”
Following that meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office said the three leaders agreed to continue working on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). It was the first private discussion between Carney and Trump since the U.S. president paused negotiations in October.
The stakes are high. Last week, Trump mused about letting CUSMA expire when it comes up for review next year — a move that could reshape North American trade. Mexico and Canada have been lobbying for tariff relief and arguing strongly for preserving duty-free exchanges under the agreement.
Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 per cent in August, while Mexico continues to face 25 per cent duties. Both countries have also been hit with separate levies on steel, aluminum, automobiles, lumber and copper, escalating economic pressure across the continent.
Sunday’s festivities marked another unusual moment: Trump became the first U.S. president to deliver remarks from the Kennedy Center stage rather than observing from the balcony. This year’s honorees included Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait and Michael Crawford.
Whether the warm gestures between Trump and Carney translate into revived trade talks remains unclear — but with next year’s CUSMA review looming and tariffs mounting, Canada and Mexico are hoping “we’ll see” becomes something more definitive.