(MENAFN) Trade, tariffs, and international crises were the central topics during talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday in Washington.

Carney is visiting the U.S. to negotiate concessions on tariffs, which he argues have negatively affected both countries’ economies. Despite the serious issues, both leaders exchanged words of mutual praise. Trump commended Canada and Carney, while Carney acknowledged the president’s efforts to secure the shared border, which has helped reduce the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl into the United States.

The Oval Office discussion was largely led by Trump, who fielded most questions from reporters, while Carney mostly remained quiet, offering occasional compliments on Trump’s “transformative” approach to trade. Carney highlighted the importance of U.S.-Canada trade, noting, “We are the second-largest trading partner (of the US),” and projecting bilateral trade to reach $8 trillion over the next five years.

Trump recognized that both nations compete in some sectors, particularly automobile manufacturing, where each country wants cars produced domestically. However, he expressed optimism that a trade agreement, though complex, would ultimately benefit Canadians, saying, “I think they will be very happy.”

Carney also thanked Trump for his diplomatic efforts, including initiatives to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war and the recent 20-point ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas.

Regarding tariffs, Trump reiterated that past U.S. trade policies allowed other countries to take advantage of America for decades and insisted that his tariffs are “fair.”

On border issues, Carney addressed concerns about fentanyl entering the U.S. via Canada. He stated diplomatically, “Any amount is too much. It is less than 1 percent. It is still too much,” while Trump has previously claimed that the flow is much higher. The U.S. president also praised Canada for significantly reducing illegal immigration into the United States through its territory.

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