\n<\/p>\n
OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday his government \u200bwas ready to sign a trade deal with the U.S. that benefits \u200cboth countries, adding any agreement would need to have stability and credibility.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe deal that\u2019s possible, that\u2019s in the interests of Canadian workers, families and businesses, is also \u200bthe deal that is in the interests of American families, American \u200bbusinesses, American consumers, and \u2026 we\u2019re ready to sit down and \u2060strike that deal when the Americans are ready,\u201d Carney told reporters in \u200bThunder Bay, Ontario.<\/span><\/p>\n Carney dismissed recent comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick \u200band Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that Canada walked away from a trade deal because of domestic politics, saying in response to a question, \u201cI don\u2019t think, with all respect, appointed, unelected \u200bcabinet members in the United States are experts on Canadian politics.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Carney \u200bsuggested there had been a recent softening in the U.S. approach to any trade deal \u200cthat \u2060could spur further discussions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere were a few issues that the United States was arguing right up to the last hour,\u201d he said, describing it as an \u201cour way or the highway\u201d attitude before talks broke down last \u200bmonth. \u201cNow, they\u2019re not,\u201d he \u200bsaid. \u201cSo all \u2060of a sudden, they don\u2019t care about Canadian language or culture and those elements. Well, if they didn\u2019t care, \u200bthey shouldn\u2019t have kept them in the deal,\u201d Carney \u200bsaid. \u201cIt\u2019s good. \u2060We welcome that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Shortly after Carney spoke, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that it was \u201cvery good for Canadian Politicians like Prime Minister Mark Carney \u2060to \u200bmake President Donald J. Trump \u2018the enemy.’\u201d He warned \u200bthe country\u2019s economy would then collapse and be \u201cWorse than anything that has ever happened to \u200ba Canadian politician.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n