Mark Carney, the newly-elected Prime Minister of Canada, is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this Tuesday. This in-person meeting could be a turning point for Carney. He starts his new term in office with one obvious advantage—to re-establish the closest, strongest friendships, partnerships, and alliances between Canada and the U.S.
Carney’s visit to the U.S. capital is providentially timed for both countries. As the leader of Canada, Carney is expected to discuss various pressing matters, including trade relations, environmental policies, and security cooperation. His agenda represents a strong opportunity to promote a more cooperative approach to the mutual challenges shared by both countries.
Taking office in an especially dynamic and unprecedented political environment, the new Governor Carney arrives with unique experience to his new post. When he became Prime Minister, he did so having served as the Governor of the Bank of England. In that role, he confronted complicated financial matters and defined the administration’s economic policy. His deep experiences in international finance give him an invaluable perspective as he advises President Trump to think long term.
This meeting, as Carney was quick to note, will be the first official date between Carney and Trump since Carney’s election to office. Public policy observers are looking forward to robust dialogues concerning the new trade deals that have recently gone into effect between Canada and the United States. They especially zero in on the provocative NAFTA renegotiations.
Carney told us he’s preparing for that high-stakes meeting. He urges that we continue to build deep diplomatic ties with the U.S. He has immense faith in the potential of honest discussion. It’s an essential tool to address both economic priorities and urgent issues of public concern such as climate change and border security.
We cannot overstate how important this meeting is. It might define the tone of future interactions between the two leaders and the respective governments. Analysts will be closely monitoring how both leaders approach topics that require mutual understanding and cooperation.