Canada’s PM Mark Carney makes second White House visit to talk trade with U.S. President Trump

Canadian government plays down chances of imminent trade deal

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting the White House for the second time in five months today, October 7, 2025. This visit comes as he faces significant pressure at home to resolve the issue of U.S. tariffs on Canadian products like steel, cars, and other goods, which are currently damaging Canada’s economy. This trip is focused on creating a new economic and security partnership with the United States.

However, many officials and experts aren’t expecting a major trade deal to be announced immediately. They suggest that the simple fact that Prime Minister Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are continuing to talk should be seen as a positive step. Carney’s previous meeting in May was tense, with the Canadian leader firmly rejecting Trump’s repeated suggestion that the U.S. might purchase or annex Canada.

Since that last meeting, Carney has made several moves to ease tensions with the U.S., which is Canada’s largest trading partner. These concessions include getting rid of some of Canada’s own counter-tariffs and dropping a proposed tax on U.S. technology companies’ digital services. While the majority of Canada’s exports enter the U.S. without tariffs under the current free trade agreement (USMCA), the targeted tariffs have been hitting key Canadian industries like steel, aluminum, and auto manufacturing very hard.

Former political advisor Jonathan Kalles noted that Canada currently enjoys one of the lowest tariff rates overall, suggesting that Carney should be cautious, stating, “You don’t want to poke the bear when things could be much worse.” He believes private discussions, rather than the public display of a White House visit, are the better way for Carney to secure a favorable deal. The Prime Minister, who was elected in April on a promise to be tough with Trump and secure a new economic relationship, is currently being given time by the Canadian public to handle the situation, according to pollster Shachi Kurl.

Despite this patience, the clock is ticking. Kurl warned that the mounting job losses and a slowing economy caused by the U.S. tariffs will soon increase pressure on Carney. In fact, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre has already criticized the Prime Minister for failing to meet his earlier pledge to secure a “win” by a mid-July deadline. The stakes are high, as nearly three-quarters of all Canadian exports go directly to the U.S.

Some experts, like Asa McKercher, believe the meeting will be a success if President Trump simply acknowledges that Canada has addressed some of his long-standing complaints. For example, Carney recently created a new defense agency and increased military spending, addressing Trump’s past criticism that Canada was a “military free-rider.” McKercher suggested a good outcome would be if Trump then agrees to reduce some of the industry-specific tariffs, particularly on autos, as a show of good faith.