JONAH GOLDBERG: Good reasons and bad politics surrounding a third Trump impeachment

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reported on Sunday that he engaged in a "good conversation" with US President Donald Trump regarding the deteriorating trade relationship between the two nations. This occurred after Washington imposed a broad range of tariffs on Canada in response to the breakdown of high-level trade talks in August.

Carney noted that these recent discussions were based on previous constructive dialogues about the framework of a mutually advantageous trade agreement. Prime Minister Carney stated that his teams would now focus on delivering this outcome in the coming weeks. During his re-election campaign, President Trump has taken a protectionist approach to global trade, imposing tariffs on allied and adversary countries alike.

Canada, one of the United States' largest trading partners, has frequently been targeted by these measures. Following the cessation of talks in August, President Trump initiated a series of tariffs, some of which he subsequently lifted prior to the upcoming US midterm elections. Affordability is a significant concern for voters, and these tariffs have contributed to inflation in the United States.

Impacted by these tariffs, Canada retaliated by imposing levies on an equivalent value of American goods, prompting the retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on certain products. President Trump anticipated reaching a new trade agreement with Canada soon, though he did not provide further details. On Sunday, Trump confirmed the latest talks with Carney, stating that officials had identified the concept of a "very good deal" for both countries.

The trade deal would reportedly include the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that has faced environmental opposition and was halted under the previous administration of Joe Biden. President Trump's trade policies have led Canada to strengthen its relationships with other allies. Recently, Canada and the European Union announced an alliance where Ottawa became the bloc's first associate member, though there was some disagreement within the EU about the terminology used to describe this partnership.