Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is said to be in private negotiations with US President Donald Trump to craft a fresh trade and security accord, the Globe and Mail reported on Thursday.
The sensitive negotiations are said to be happening behind closed doors and involve top cabinet members of the two governments. US Canada Ambassador Pete Hoekstra confirmed that the talks are still on going, saying they were a “clear indicator” that both countries are committed to creating a path ahead. “The signals that they’re talking and in communications on a regular basis is a clear indicator to me that both sides see the importance and the urgency of moving this forward,” Hoekstra said to the Globe and Mail.
Major stakeholders in the talks are said to include Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Sources indicate that the formal deal may be signed in September if the talks go according to plan.
The move to maintain the negotiations confidential is said to maximize the prospects for a successful deal through the avoidance of political intervention and media attention. This is a reflection of the intense sensitivity and sophistication of the issues of bilateral trade and defense, particularly as both nations have mounting global pressures and changing economic issues.
Neither the office of Prime Minister Carney nor the US Embassy in Ottawa has made an official statement regarding the alleged negotiations. Reuters added that queries for explanation were not immediately replied to.
If completed, the agreement would represent a fundamental change in North American relations, potentially changing everything from cross-border commerce to defense coordination. Experts say that a new framework would allow for renewed diplomatic efforts that have been strained in recent years.
The quiet momentum behind these talks signals a growing urgency to redefine regional alliances amid changing global dynamics.