Trump has ‘very nice’ talk with Mark Carney after Canada rift
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US President Donald Trump (right) and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sat at the same table for an Apec dinner on Oct 29..
PHOTO: AFP
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ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – US President Donald Trump said he had a “very nice conversation” on Oct 29 with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite the latest increase in tensions over trade between the two nations.
Mr Trump made the remarks on Air Force One on Oct 30 after departing South Korea, where he had come for meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) group.
Mr Carney and Mr Trump sat at the same table for an Apec dinner on Oct 29.
“I had a very nice conversation with him last night,” Mr Trump told reporters.
Mr Carney’s office noted the encounter in a statement late on Oct 29.
“The Prime Minister had constructive conversations on various topics of interest with all participants, including the President of the United States.”
The US president was inflamed over the Canadian province of Ontario’s move to air an ad using an old Ronald Reagan radio address
He’s accused Canada – and Mr Carney – of seeking to influence the US Supreme Court, which is set to hear arguments about the legality of his use of levies on foreign goods next week.
On Oct 27, Mr Trump had said of Mr Carney: “I don’t want to meet with him.”
He added: “I’m not going to be meeting with them for a while. I’m very happy with the deal we have right now with Canada. We’re going to let it ride.”
Arrival remark
When he landed in South Korea on Oct 29, Mr Trump had posted on social media: “For those that are asking, we didn’t come to South Korea to see Canada!”
Earlier in the week, Mr Carney told reporters in Malaysia that Canada was “ready when appropriate” to pick up trade talks with the US. BLOOMBERG
