JAKARTA - Prime Minister Mark Carney insists Canada will never be sold, while United States President Donald Trump said "don't say no", as the two leaders met for the first time at the White House, Washington DC on Tuesday.
PM Carney, who won the election on April 28 with a pledge to fight US rates and talk about annexation, later said he had also asked President Trump to stop calling Canada the 51st state in public.
Overall, PM Carney called the meeting a constructive meeting, saying the two sides would start serious talks about a new relationship that he said was necessary after the tariff.
Meanwhile, President Trump told reporters the meeting was "great", noting he and PM Carney got along.
"I think the relationship will be very strong," he said.
Although PM Carney has repeatedly called President Trump's actions a betrayal, the two leaders showed no hostility during the opening session of the Oval Room, as they praised each other in front of journalists before meeting in person.
President Trump said the two sides would not discuss Canada being part of the United States, but said it would be a "beautiful marriage."
PM Carney firmly dismissed the idea of annexation.
"It's not for sale, it won't be sold - forever," he said.
"Never say no, never say no," said President Trump.
President Trump further said he and Carney would discuss "difficult points," alleging to beliefs, Uncle Sam's country could live without Ice Fragrant products, points he conveyed at length during a conversation in the Oval Room.
"Whatever happens, we will remain friends with Canada. Canada is a very special place for me," President Trump said before a private meeting with PM Carney, adding the United States would always protect Canada.
Liberal party Carney promised voters they would create new bilateral economic and security ties with Washington and diversify the economy that relies heavily on exports to the US.
"We have made progress. We have made a very comprehensive real exchange and there will be a meeting between ministers and officials," PM Carney later told a news conference, saying he would meet President Trump at a G7 summit in Canada in mid-June.
Ahead of the visit, PM Carney narrowed hopes for a breakthrough in talks. When President Trump was asked if PM Carney could say something to persuade him to withdraw the tariff, he replied, "No."
A senior Canadian government official said PM Carney told President Trump at lunch the tariff made no sense.
PM Carney told reporters he had asked President Trump to stop calling Canada the 51st state for "no use."
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"But the president will say what he wants," he said.
During the meeting, Trump reiterated his concerns about what he called the major US deficit with Canada. Canada's trade surplus of Canadian goods was USD 102.3 billion by 2024, mostly due to Canadian oil imports by America.
Canada is the second largest individual trading partner for the US after Mexico, and the largest export market for US goods. More than $760 billion in goods flowed between the two countries last year.
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