Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau: No rush to reach agreement with Trump, US side eventually needs to face reality.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said to the media on Thursday during a campaign rally in British Columbia that Canada does not need to rush to reach a trade agreement with U.S. President Trump, as Canada has enough leverage in negotiations and is capable of waiting for the "right agreement." "We don't need to sign an agreement hastily in the short term," Carney told reporters. "My government will focus on reaching a suitable, favorable agreement for Canada." Carney said that if he wins in the federal election on April 28, he will focus on eliminating domestic trade barriers, promoting housing construction, and resource development projects to boost Canada's domestic economy. These measures will not only enhance Canada's economic independence but also "increase our leverage in negotiations with Trump." However, Carney also expressed hope to have face-to-face talks with Trump as soon as possible after the election, possibly within a few days. Previously, Carney was forced to confirm that during a conversation on March 28 with Trump, Trump mentioned the possibility of making Canada the "51st state of the U.S." Although Carney had previously stated that Trump respected Canadian sovereignty in the conversation, he further clarified, "The president does bring up some thoughts repeatedly, but he does treat me as the Prime Minister of Canada." He emphasized that any future negotiations with Trump will be based on the relationship between "two sovereign countries." Steve Verheul, former chief trade negotiator for Canada who led the negotiations for the USMCA agreement, said that there is still hope for a trade agreement between Canada and the U.S. "I believe that the U.S. will eventually realize that isolation is not the best path, and it will seek allies again, and North America is the safest cooperation region." The renegotiation of the USMCA is expected to commence before the review period in 2026. Although the Trump administration recently suspended some "reciprocal tariffs," he hinted at the possibility of imposing tariffs on Canadian cars. "The U.S. does not want to import cars from Canada," Trump said to the media on Wednesday, suggesting that other Canadian industries may also face more tariffs. Verheul pointed out that the "core battleground" in future negotiations will include key industries such as steel, aluminum, automobiles, auto parts, pharmaceuticals, lumber, copper, and critical mineral resources. However, Canada also has leverage. Verheul emphasized that Canada could use its advantage in the energy sector as a negotiation leverage. Canada is the largest overseas supplier of oil to the U.S., and some U.S. refineries heavily rely on cheaper Canadian heavy oil, with few alternative sources. Verheul stated, "We need them, and they need us. I believe we will eventually return to the negotiation table and reach an agreement."