Trump Says U.S. and Canada Are Close to Trade Deal, Claims Washington Holds All the Cards

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington and Ottawa are close to reaching a trade deal, while asserting that the United States holds all the cards in the negotiations.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said Canada was working very hard to secure an agreement with the U.S., adding that the final decision rests with Washington.

Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, that Canada remained in regular contact with the United States and was ready to negotiate in good faith to reach a trade agreement that serves the interests of both countries.

However, Carney stressed that Canada was not concerned about the timeline. He said an agreement could be signed as early as that afternoon if the U.S. was ready, but Canada was also prepared to wait months or longer rather than accept a bad deal.

Carney maintained that Canada would stand firm in protecting the interests of its citizens throughout the negotiations.