Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations with President Trump to craft a bilateral trade and security agreement, according to a report Thursday.
Talks involving senior officials from both countries are being kept under wraps to maximize the chances of reaching a deal, the Globe and Mail reported, citing U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are said to be participating in the discussions.
Hoekstra said the ongoing communication signals urgency and commitment on both sides. “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 told the Globe.
