Ahead of G7, Canada's Carney softens tone toward Trump with trade talks at stake

By — Rob Gillies, Associated Press Rob Gillies, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ahead-of-g7-canadas-carney-softens-tone-toward-trump-with-trade-talks-at-stake Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ahead of G7, Canada's Carney softens tone toward Trump with trade talks at stake World Jun 12, 2026 5:12 PM EDT PARIS (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Europe for the upcoming G7 summit, where he is expected to make a more muted criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump at a crucial time for talks to potentially renew a free-trade agreement between the two countries and Mexico. Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, became a symbol of middle-power resistance in January, when he declared the global rules-based order over and condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries. But this summit comes as tensions have been ramping up between Trump and Canada. Carney met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, a few days before the summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. READ MORE: Carney says he told Trump 'I meant what I said' in his Davos speech on trade policy He didn't mention the U.S. directly but referenced artificial intelligence and said both Canada and France "are determined to act in this way to strengthen our strategic autonomy in a world dominated by hegemonic powers and hyperscalers." Macron said the two countries "share the same view of the world." The Group of Seven summit of industrialized democracies that begins Monday in France comes ahead of the scheduled July 1 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. It is a crucial moment in trade talks for the latest iteration of the North American free-trade pact that has intertwined the economies of the three countries since the early 1990s. Trump said this week that he may not renew the deal. Preserving the accord is critical for Canada, where 70% of exports go to the U.S. Canadian historian Robert Bothwell said Trump is more of a problem for Carney "than anybody else because we are more exposed to the United States." READ MORE: Carney says Canada not pursuing free trade deal with China as Trump threatens tariffs Trump leaves for the G7 summit right after he hosts UFC fights at the White House on Sunday for his 80th birthday. Carney downplayed the notion that it could be six countries against one at the summit, saying there will be some issues where each country has more extreme views compared to others. The summit comes amid strain in the Canada-U.S. relationship — one of the most durable and amicable alliances. Trump's actions, including launching a trade war and suggesting Canada become the 51st U.S. state, have infuriated Canadians and created the political environment for Carney to win the job of prime minister in 2025 after promising to confront Trump. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the leader of Canada's most populous p