Canadian, U.S. leaders to have phone call "in next day or two"

28/3/2025 6:33

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he will have a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the trade disputes in the next day or two.

The prime minister said in a press conference that Trump's office reached out to him Wednesday night to schedule a call. If it takes place, it will be the first between the two leaders.

Carney, after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations and National Security, said Canada will respond to the U.S. auto tariffs with retaliatory trade actions.

The response will "have maximum impacts in the U.S." and minimum impacts in Canada, said Carney, adding that nothing is off the table to defend Canada and its workers against the U.S. tariffs.

"The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over," said Carney, vowing to reject any attempts to weaken Canada.

Carney announced on Wednesday a "strategic response fund," which is valued at 2 billion Canadian dollars (1.4 billion U.S. dollars), to bolster the country's auto industry.

Trump announced plans on Wednesday for a 25-percent tariff on all vehicles not made in the United States as of April 2.