Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a press briefing on Tuesday, where he was asked what was going through his mind during his meeting with President Trump.
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00:00Thank you, Prime Minister. We'll now be in the press conference. We'll begin with questions from the traveling delegation. First question, Premier Kieson.
00:07Good afternoon, Prime Minister Tonda McCharles, Toronto Star. I was watching your face through the meeting in the Oval Office, and I wondered what was going through your mind when the President talked about re-erasing the artificial border, and how he criticized your predecessor and Madam Freeland.
00:23Well, thank you for, I guess, for your question. I'm glad that you couldn't tell what was going through my mind as that was going through.
00:33Look, with respect to the first point, the President has made known his wish about that issue for some time. I've been careful always to distinguish between wish and reality.
00:52I was clear there in the Oval Office, as I've been clear throughout on behalf of Canadians, that this is never going to happen. Canada is not for sale. It never will be for sale.
01:03Some things, as I said in the room, some things are never for sale, and he agreed with that.
01:08So, I distinguish between the two, and then with respect to the importance of re-establishing a constructive relationship for negotiations of a partnership, of an economic and security partnership, which is what we were here for, I look forward, not back, and I think we established a good basis today.
01:29What gives you, specifically, any indication that the President is willing to renegotiate a new trade deal with you and drop tariffs?
01:41Apart from the fact that he said that he would, is willing to have that negotiation, I think that's the main thing.
01:49That doesn't mean, that doesn't presuppose the outcome of the negotiation.
01:53As I've emphasized, it's a complex negotiation. There will be zigs and zags, difficult aspects to it.
01:58But the prospect is there. We discussed it in more detail.
02:03And as I said a moment ago, we'll be following up, both between officials, but also he and I in the coming weeks. Thank you.