Trump holds ‘very nice’ talks with Canada PM Carney in South Korea as Senate moves to end US tariffs against Ottawa

The Senate action came while Trump was on a five-day trip to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

The resolution aims to overturn emergency declarations he declared in July to justify some of his tariffs.

The senate democrats have pledged to force repeated votes to undo the trade actions as prices on affected goods and commodities rise, hurting American consumers.

One of the Democratic co-sponsors of the Canada tariff resolution, Sen. Tim Kaine, acknowledged that this resolution likely won’t advance beyond the Senate, but he insisted it can still send a message to Trump.

“I did learn … in the first Trump term that the president is responsive to things like this. When he sees Republicans starting to vote against his policies, even in small numbers, that makes an impression on him and can often cause him to alter his behavior,” Kaine told reporters, reported CNN.

‘Very nice conversation with Carney’: Trump

US President Donald Trump Thursday said he had a “very nice” conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a dinner in South Korea, despite ongoing trade tensions between the two countries, reported Reuters.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump did not provide further details about the conversation. Earlier, before arriving in South Korea, he had posted on social media that he had no plans to meet with Canada.

10% additional tariffs on Canada

Last week, Trump announced that the US will be ending all trade talks with Canada in response to an anti-tariff television ad from Ontario featuring former President Ronald Reagan.

In a post on social media, Trump accused Ottawa of trying to influence US Supreme Court decisions through the ads. “TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY OF THE USA,” the president wrote.

The ad used Reagan’s words to criticise the tariffs imposed by the federal government, which angered Trump. He had previously indicated that his administration might end trade negotiations with Canada.

The US has already imposed 35 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods, although most are exempt under the Free Trade Agreement. The Trump administration has also imposed sector-specific tariffs, including 50% on metals and 25% on automobiles.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on 5 November in a case that will determine the legality of Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, a recurring campaign theme in his current political comeback.