Prime Minister Mark Carney has been in direct communication with U.S. President Donald Trump behind closed doors to resolve the ongoing trade dispute, according to top government officials.
Secret discussions between the two leaders and top cabinet ministers have been taking place to ensure the best possible scenario, multiple sources have told the media.
Carney and Trump met in the Oval Office last month but there have been no public signs that they continued their discourse until this week.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed to reporters that Carney and Trump were communicating on Thursday.
However, she stopped short of answering whether the two leaders were close to finalizing an agreement.
“We won’t negotiate in public,” said Joly. “We’ll let the prime minister do his work.”
Additionally, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra told The Globe and Mail that the two leaders have spoken several times since their Oval Office meeting on May 6.
“You have the relationship and the discussions between the President and the Prime Minister,” said Hoekstra, adding that “they have had conversations, more than just the Oval Office.”
Hoekstra noted that Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are also involved in the negotiations.
“The indications that they are talking and in communications regularly is a clear indicator to me that both sides recognize the importance and the urgency of moving this forward,” he said.
LeBlanc was asked about the discussions on Wednesday but said he wouldn’t comment on them publicly.
According to Hoekstra, the two parties are “laying out the perimeters” of a deal that may see more U.S. content in the auto industry, more U.S. access to Canada’s critical minerals and ensuring that Canada plays a larger role in Arctic defence.
Border security, increased defence spending, fentanyl, energy and tariffs on aluminum and steel are all important subjects of discussion as well.
Hoekstra said the current talks are between Canada and the U.S. exclusively and do not involve Mexico.
“This is too important for it be managed by leaks. There is too much at stake. You are our second largest trading partner,” said Hoekstra, adding that it was unlikely that a deal would be reached before September.
“Sure, September is possible. Is it possible to be earlier? Sure. Is it possible that it will be later? Sure,” he said. “When the President is ready to announce an agreement and the Prime Minister is ready to announce an agreement. That is when that will happen.”
Carney was asked about the trade dispute on Wednesday and said that “intensive discussions” were taking place but did not comment further other than that his government was preparing reprisals, should the negotiations fail.