Mark Carney reports on detailed Canada-US trade talks at G7 summit

Canada and the United States held what Prime Minister Mark Carney described as detailed, technical trade discussions during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. The talks spanned multiple conversations with US officials over the course of the summit, which ran from June 16 to 18, though they stopped short of producing a formal sit-down between Carney and President Donald Trump.

What happened at Évian-les-Bains

Carney confirmed that numerous conversations took place between Canadian and US officials on trade matters throughout the summit. The discussions covered various commercial issues, with particular attention paid to tensions surrounding the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA in the US and CUSMA in Canada.

Despite the volume of conversations, Carney refrained from confirming whether those discussions touched on the future or renewal of USMCA. That’s a notable omission given the agreement is set for a scheduled review around July 2026.

Trump reiterated his longstanding criticisms of the trade pact during discussions at the summit, voicing persistent concerns over tariff issues. No breakthroughs were reported from any of these interactions.

A hot mic captured Carney explaining the limitations of a Canada-China electric vehicle agreement directly to Trump. Carney reassured the US president that Canadian EV imports were limited to roughly 3% of the overall American market, approximately 49,000 vehicles. Trump reportedly appeared supportive after hearing Carney’s explanation.

The USMCA backdrop

USMCA, the trade agreement that replaced NAFTA in 2020, governs the commercial relationship between the US, Canada, and Mexico. The agreement includes a built-in review mechanism, and the next scheduled review falls around July 2026.

Trump has been a consistent critic of the deal, even though his first administration was the one that negotiated it. His concerns have centered on tariffs, trade balances, and what he views as unfavorable terms for American industry. The EV sector has become a particular flashpoint as Canada has pursued partnerships with Chinese automakers, raising alarm bells in Washington about Chinese-made vehicles accessing the US market through Canadian trade corridors.

Carney’s hot mic moment gave Trump specific, digestible numbers to counter the narrative that Canada was flooding the American market with Chinese EVs, with the 3% market share figure and the 49,000-vehicle count directly addressing those concerns.

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