Trump talks up Canada deal chances during PM Carney’s visit

US President Donald Trump struck a friendly tone with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, hailing progress towards a trade deal but offering few concrete concessions on steep US tariffs.

Trump repeatedly showered praise on “great leader” Carney, who was under pressure at home to show progress from his second visit to the White House since taking office in April.

“I think they’re going to walk away very happy,” Trump told reporters as he sat alongside Carney in the Oval Office. “And I think we’ve come a long way over the last few months, actually, in terms of that relationship.”

Trump said that the North American neighbours had “natural conflict” over business as their manufacturers were competing for the same market but said there was “nothing wrong with it”.

Carney said he was confident that Canada would “get the right deal” from the United States, his country’s main economic partner.

The pair shared a series of lighthearted moments, even laughing as Trump joked about a Canadian “merger” in reference to his previous calls for Canada to become the 51st US state.