Trump Meets Canada’s Carney, Mexico’s Sheinbaum; Talks Focus on Future of North American Trade Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday held a trilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, with discussions centered partly on the future of the North American free trade pact.

The meeting took place in Washington on the sidelines of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, which the three countries are co-hosting. According to Carney’s spokesperson Audrey Champoux, the leaders met for about 45 minutes and agreed to continue working together on CUSMA, the Canadian acronym for the current trade agreement, known in the U.S. as the USMCA.

The USMCA was negotiated during Trump’s first term, but Washington is now pushing for a renegotiation next year. Trump has already imposed steep tariffs on certain Canadian and Mexican exports that fall outside the pact’s protections.

Friday’s meeting marked Trump’s first encounter with Sheinbaum, while Carney has visited the White House twice since Trump’s return to office. Their interactions, however, have been strained at times. Trump suspended trade talks earlier over a dispute involving an anti-tariff ad, prompting a frosty relationship. Carney also drew headlines at the G20 in South Africa when he dismissed a question about Trump with, “Who cares?”

Tensions have also simmered between Trump and Mexico. The U.S. president has previously threatened punitive measures over migration and drug trafficking, and stirred controversy by saying he would be “OK” with air strikes on Mexico to target traffickers — a suggestion Sheinbaum has firmly rejected.

Canada, too, bristled at Trump’s provocative remark earlier this year suggesting the country should become the 51st U.S. state.

Despite the political friction, Trump struck a cooperative tone on Friday, noting the “outstanding coordination and friendship” among the three nations as they prepare to co-host the 2026 World Cup.