Carney: Chances for a trade deal with the US rise if Washington accepts Canada's 'red lines'

Ottawa's conditions remain unchanged

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking to journalists in Ottawa on Monday, stated that prospects for a trade agreement with the United States will improve if Washington moves closer to accepting key Canadian conditions. According to him, Ottawa will sign the agreement only if it serves national interests, Anadolu reports. 'To the extent that the United States moves toward accepting these aspects, the chances for a deal increase. However, we will evaluate it, and if something is proposed, we will assess it as a whole,' said Carney.

August proposal rejected

Carney reminded that Ottawa has firm limits in negotiations, which led Canada to refuse signing the conditions proposed by Washington in August. 'We had very clear bottom lines, red lines, which made us unwilling to sign what was proposed in August,' the publication quoted him. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister emphasized that Canada remains ready for an agreement on the right terms: 'Canada is ready to sign an agreement that serves the interests of Canadians, all Canadians'.

Statement amid Trump's remarks

Carney's remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump, speaking to journalists before a rally on Sunday, stated that Washington is 'close to a deal' with Canada. At the same time, Trump claimed that Ottawa had 'long profited at the expense of the United States'. Thus, the positions of both sides publicly differ in emphasis: the American president speaks of the proximity of an agreement, while the Canadian Prime Minister stresses that progress is possible only if the United States moves toward Canadian conditions.