Trump Defends Tariffs as Carney Heads to Washington for High-Stakes Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down on his tariff strategy ahead of a key meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Washington. Speaking Monday, Trump insisted his sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods are “working,” pointing to companies relocating operations to the United States as evidence of success.

Carney, making his second visit to the White House since becoming prime minister, is expected to press for relief from duties that have hit Canada’s steel, aluminum, auto, and lumber sectors. Ottawa has already made concessions, including dropping its digital services tax and scaling back retaliatory tariffs, but Trump has shown little sign of easing his stance.

The talks come as both countries prepare for the first joint review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) next year. Canadian officials say they are cautiously optimistic about progress on sector-specific tariffs, though observers warn that Trump views tariffs as central to his trade agenda and is unlikely to roll them back quickly.

For Carney, the challenge will be balancing domestic pressure to secure relief with the realities of negotiating with a U.S. president who sees tariffs as leverage rather than a liability.