Can Canada wait out its trade war with the United States?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney appears to be in no rush to resume trade talks with the United States.

Over the weekend, he dismissed a question about the last time he spoke to US President Donald Trump, replying: “Who cares? It’s just a detail. I’ll talk to him again when it matters.”

Carney added that he believed there were no “urgent questions” that needed to be raised with his American counterparts.

The prime minister has been criticized for an apparent lack of urgency, raising questions about whether Canada is changing its approach to trade negotiations with the United States.

However, Carney told reporters on Wednesday that he will travel to Washington next week for the FIFA World Cup draw and that he and Trump may take the opportunity to meet.

Canada, Mexico and the United States will be the hosts of next year’s international tournament.

Carney said he and Trump have communicated briefly from time to time, including a text message on Tuesday.

But he said he didn’t want people to dwell on “every little exchange” and that what mattered was if and when talks resumed.

“This is one of those negotiations where there’s a lot of posturing on both sides,” said Chris Sands, director of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

“Trump doesn’t want to look too desperate to make a deal. Carney doesn’t want to look too desperate, so they’re playing off each other, trying to appear nonchalant. But of course, there’s money on the table and there’s a lot to negotiate.”

Negotiations between the two countries stalled last month after Trump was outraged by an anti-tariff ad featuring former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The ad was commissioned by the Province of Ontario and aired in the United States.

Manitoba Trade Representative Richard Madan told the BBC that despite the pause, Canadian representatives were still advocating on behalf of Canada to U.S. lawmakers on Parliament Hill.

But Madan added that no official progress had been made in trade talks.

Reagan ads in Ontario Sands said one in which former President Ronald Reagan said tariffs “hurt every American” may have struck a nerve with Trump, in part because many Americans said they felt financially strapped.

The discontent comes at a crucial political moment for Trump ahead of next year’s U.S. midterm elections.

Madan said many members of Congress have entered campaign mode. “They’re facing some political headwinds around affordability, and these tariffs aren’t going to help,” he said.

one November Fox News Poll The report shows that 76% of American voters have a negative view of the economy, up from 67% in July, and many believe Trump’s economic policies have hurt them.

Earlier this month, the president lifted tariffs on dozens of food products and said he was willing to lower tariffs on metal imports from Canada and Mexico if some conditions for moving production to the United States were met.

Before the sudden pause in negotiations, Trump and Carney were discussing a possible metals and energy deal that Canadian officials had hoped would provide relief from tariffs on Canada’s steel and aluminum industries.

The United States has imposed a 35% tariff on all Canadian goods, but most goods are exempt under existing free trade agreements. It also imposes industry-specific tariffs on Canadian goods, including a 50% tariff on metals and a 25% tariff on automobiles.

About three-quarters of Canada’s exports go to the United States, making its economy particularly vulnerable. However, Carney noted that Canada faces lower tariffs than other countries due to tariff exemptions under current free trade agreements.

Instead, Carney focused on his pledge to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade. The Prime Minister has recently been on a series of global trips to promote Canada abroad, including during the G20 summits in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Carney’s government has said it will provide financial relief to industries affected by U.S. tariffs in response to the trade storm.

The relief will be welcomed by Canadian aluminum producers, who must bear initial tariff-related costs to meet contractual obligations with U.S. customers.

But Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Canadian Aluminum Association, told the BBC that Americans are starting to feel the pinch as metal stocks are depleted. He noted that the United States consumes far more aluminum than it produces, causing it to rely on imports.

“Time is on our side and pain is on their side,” Mr. Simard said.

“We can stay the course, and we think it’s in Canada’s interest to take our time and not reach a deal too early.”

Still, Carney faces pressure from others to reach a resolution quickly.

Madan noted that Manitoba is feeling the U.S. tariffs on heavy machinery and that people in the industry are “deeply concerned.”

The opposition Conservative Party criticized Carney’s recent comments, saying he had “ignored and mocked thousands of job losses as having nothing to do with him”.

They also accuse him of failing to negotiate and deliver “victory” to Canada as promised during his campaign.

Carney acknowledged on Tuesday that he had “chosen a poor choice of words” in his remarks about the talks over the weekend.

But with the U.S. midterm elections approaching and a review of the long-standing free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico looming in 2026, some are hoping a resolution can be reached soon.

Mr. Sands noted that the Office of the United States Trade Representative will hold public hearings on the free trade agreement, known as USMCA (or CUSMA in Canada) in early December.

He said both Canada and the United States are likely to hear from business groups who want to see free trade continue.

That could help, Carney said. “The private sector has said they want a deal. What can we do?” Mr. Sands said.