Vance says Carney tried to ‘out-tough’ Trump in latest trade negotiations

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance commented on the latest trade deal with Canada at a fundraising event on Wednesday, stating that Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to "out-tough" President Donald Trump during the negotiations. Vance praised Carney as a "very sweet guy" and mentioned that Carney's longtime friend Conservative MP Jamil Jivani has been a helpful advocate for Canada.

Vance noted that Carney's approach of "puffing his chest out" and "out-toughing" Trump was ironic, as the deal ultimately saw Canada make compromises on various issues. He also mentioned that another Canadian leader, Pierre Poilievre, was not a significant player in the negotiations. The White House and Vance's office have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The deal, announced late Tuesday, includes a three-day delay in new tariffs on Canadian products. Trump claimed it was a "good deal for everybody" and said his administration has a "very nice relationship" with Canada. The deal will lower sectoral tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles, while Carney has promised to return American booze to liquor stores.

However, it remains unclear what additional concessions Canada made. U.S. Minister Dominic LeBlanc returned to Washington for further trade talks with United States Trade Representative Jamie Jo Ann Greer ahead of a Saturday deadline. Vance noted that Jivani has been quietly involved in the negotiations, advocating for "win-win" areas such as energy and automobile tariffs.