Prime Minister Mark Carney's attempt to establish immediate contact with Trump with the aim of strengthening Canada-US economic relations

OTTAWA — Canada’s ambassador to the United States says Prime Minister Mark Carney is trying to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump “as soon as possible.”

Speaking to Fox News, Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kristen Hillman said Canada has been in contact with the United States since Carney was sworn in as prime minister on Friday and is “looking forward” to speaking with Trump.

She added that Carney is looking forward to building a “good, strong relationship” with the U.S. president, while stressing that the Canadian prime minister respects Trump’s efforts to boost the U.S. economy, but wants to do the same for Canada’s economy.

Hillman declined to directly answer a question about whether Canada could take action to prevent the U.S. tariffs. He said only that a meeting last week with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had made it clear that Canada would be subject to the tariffs, which would take effect April 2.

Mark Carney is scheduled to leave for France and Britain today on his first foreign trip, where he will discuss security, economic and trade relations. He will then stop in Iqaluit, Nunavut, to reaffirm Canada’s sovereignty over the Arctic.

Carney has previously said he has no immediate plans to travel to the United States but is looking forward to speaking with Trump at an appropriate time.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on March 16, 2025.

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