It is not a coincidence that U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat against Canada came just ahead of negotiations on renewing North America's main free-trade pact, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday. Trump said earlier this month the trade deal was "irrelevant" to him. Despite the president's angry social media outbursts over the weekend, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he had a cordial and lengthy phone conversation with Trump's trade czar on Sunday. WATCH | Canada reminds U.S. it didn't make free-trade deal with China: Carney links Trump’s jabs, tariff threats to CUSMA talks | Duration 2:01 Prime Minister Mark Carney tied U.S. President Donald Trump's recent tariff threats and personal jabs against him to the upcoming CUSMA negotiations, saying they should be viewed in that 'broader context.' CUSMA has shielded Canada and Mexico from the worst impacts of Trump's tariffs.

Source: CBC News January 27, 2026 15:40 UTC