Trump's Trade Tango: Diplomacy and Drama with Canada

In a high-stakes meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump expressed openness to extending or renegotiating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) when he met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Facing tariffs and threats of annexation, Carney seeks stability for Canada's essential trade relations with the US.

The USMCA, enacted during Trump's first term, allows the majority of Canadian and Mexican goods to enter the US duty-free. However, Trump is adamant about reshaping trade relations to benefit the US, implying the possibility of separate agreements. This move leaves uncertainty hovering over the future economic dynamics of one of the world's most interconnected alliances.

Amid economic anxiety in Canada, Carney's visit to Washington is a quest to alleviate the impact of tariffs on Canadian goods, particularly steel and aluminum. Relationships between the US and Canada continue to fluctuate as mutual respect and economic dependency persist alongside conflicts over policy and administration.

(With inputs from agencies.)