Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney appears in no rush to resume trade talks with the US.
He dismissed a question over the weekend about when he last spoke to US President Donald Trump, responding: 'Who cares? It's a detail. I'll speak to him again when it matters.'
Carney added that, in his view, there is no 'burning issue' to raise with his US counterpart. The prime minister has faced criticism for his apparent lack of urgency, which raises the question about whether Canada is shifting its approach to trade talks with the US.
He dismissed a question over the weekend about when he last spoke to US President Donald Trump, responding: 'Who cares? It's a detail. I'll speak to him again when it matters.'
Carney added that, in his view, there is no 'burning issue' to raise with his US counterpart. The prime minister has faced criticism for his apparent lack of urgency, which raises the question about whether Canada is shifting its approach to trade talks with the US.
'Great deal of posturing'
Still, Carney is considering travelling to Washington next week for the Fifa World Cup draw. Canada is a host country of the international tournament next year, along with Mexico and the US.
Sources have told Canadian media that Carney and Trump could take the opportunity to meet, though nothing firm has been announced.
'This is one of those negotiations where there's a great deal of posturing on both sides,' said Chris Sands, director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
'Trump doesn't want to look like he needs a deal too badly. Carney doesn't want to look too desperate either, and so they kind of play each other out trying to look nonchalant. But of course, there's money on the table, and there's a lot to be negotiated.'
Sources have told Canadian media that Carney and Trump could take the opportunity to meet, though nothing firm has been announced.
'This is one of those negotiations where there's a great deal of posturing on both sides,' said Chris Sands, director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
'Trump doesn't want to look like he needs a deal too badly. Carney doesn't want to look too desperate either, and so they kind of play each other out trying to look nonchalant. But of course, there's money on the table, and there's a lot to be negotiated.'
Talks between the two countries stalled last month when Trump took offence at an anti-tariff advertisement featuring former US President Ronald Reagan, which was commissioned by the province of Ontario and aired in the US.
Prior to that, Carney said he and Trump texted regularly, telling Toronto Life magazine that Trump texts with 'a lot of caps. And exclamation marks. And there is no time limit—there is a 24/7 element to it'.
Prior to that, Carney said he and Trump texted regularly, telling Toronto Life magazine that Trump texts with 'a lot of caps. And exclamation marks. And there is no time limit—there is a 24/7 element to it'.
Despite the pause, Canadian representatives are still advocating on the country's behalf with US lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Richard Madan, the trade representative for the province of Manitoba, told the BBC. But Madan added that trade talks have not formally progressed beyond that.
