Republican senator admits Trump is Canada's ‘adversary' as DC delegation grovels in Ottawa
Washington's delegation to Canada seemed to have one message in mind: please keep taking us seriously.
Months of provocative statements about the Great White North joining America as the 51st state in the Union, however, led the delegation's lone Republican member to admit to reporters that the US president had become an 'adversary' of one of America's two closest neighbors.
On Friday, five members of the US Senate were in Ottawa ahead of King Charles's speech to the Canadian parliament. The delegation, typically a routine bipartisan gesture to an American neighbor whose relationship with Washington transcends political divides, was this year split between four Democrats and one lone Republican senator representing a border state — North Dakota. Other Republicans, seemingly fearful of tough questions about Trump's vow to use 'economic force' to coerce Canada into joining the US, stayed home.
Kevin Cramer, the GOP 'co-leader', told reporters on the trip that Prime Minister Mark Carney centered him in his conversation with the group, given the senator's relationship with the Republican US president.
He told reporters that he sought to encourage Canadian officials to reach a trade deal with the United States. The Trump White House boasted that it would announce 100 trade deals in 100 days as the US president rolled out a slate of so-called 'reciprocal' tariffs this spring; Canada has been a top target of his accusations of unfair practices.
'I don't want to get in Donald Trump's way. There's no [trade] deal that happens without his involvement. But at the same time [I want to] be an encourager to Canada and their officials and try to be a partner in some way,' said Cramer after the meetings Friday, according to Punchbowl News.
He added, jokingly: 'Hopefully I navigated it OK, but I'll find out on Truth Social.'
Cramer did not take a beating on Truth Social, much to his relief — even though he did lay the blame for the fraying of ties squarely on Trump's shoulders.
'We have an obligation to stop the offenses,' the Republican senator told reporters, speaking of the United States.
'For the moment, the United States has become an adversary to the Canadian people because of the offense that so many have felt,' he continued. 'What I would stress with the president would be, let's keep our eye on the common adversary and how much stronger we can be.'
The tone of Cramer's outreach veered sharply towards outright groveling in an interview with Canadian newscast The West Block.
'I'm just here to say thank you, and then to encourage Canadians to take another look and give us another chance,' said Cramer.
Democrats on the trip had notably little to offer the conversation. Tim Kaine, according to Punchbowl, pitched Carney on his bill to block US sanctions on Canada — which even he tacitly acknowledged was going nowhere in the Senate.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen said that she hoped some of the 'cracks' in the bonds between the US and Canada could be healed. But she added: 'Ultimately it's the prime minister and the president who will decide to reset the relationship.'
Their visit is not likely to shift the dynamic one way or the other. Carney, elected on a Liberal Party mandate to stand up to the US president, flew to Washington in early May after telling the BBC in an interview that Canada would negotiate with America 'on our terms'. Rather than pursue a unilateral response to Trump's tariffs, the Canadian prime minister reportedly invited Claudia Sheinbaum to the upcoming G7 summit in Kananaskis next month. The Mexican president's attendance would allow Carney to pursue a discussion with Trump aimed at salvaging the USMCA trade agreement signed during Trump's first term.
A defiant Carney told Trump that Canada was 'not for sale' during their meeting at the White House in early May. The US president, avoiding another Zelensky-like blowup, declined to challenge him.
On Tuesday, the US president wrote on Truth Social that he presented Canada's government with a $61bn price tag to be involved with the US's proposed 'Golden Dome' missile defene system, adding that it would be free if Canada relented and became a state.
'They are considering the offer!' Trump said.
And on Tuesday, the visit of King Charles provided another opportunity to Canada to celebrate its own growing political distance from the United States.
In an address scripted by the Canadian government, Charles declared that Canada, under Carney's government, would bond with 'reliable trading partners and allies' — a clear warning shot for Washington. He'd add that Canada's government was determined to protect the right to 'self-determination' for the country.
'We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War,' said Charles on Tuesday. 'Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
24 minutes ago
- CNBC
The latest CPI report showed some softening in inflation. What investors are saying
Wall Street got a favorable inflation report on Wednesday, giving equities a boost. The consumer price index rose 0.1% in May , slightly less than the 0.2% increase economists polled by Dow Jones anticipated. So-called core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, increased by 0.1% — also less than expected. Stocks reacted positively, with S & P 500 futures erasing an earlier decline to trade about 0.2% higher. Some investors noted continued uncertainty around the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook, despite the latest price report. Here's how some investors, economists and strategists reacted to the news: Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBonds: "Net, net, the inflation shock wave from more costly imported goods has yet to arrive on American shores. Today's consumer inflation report is a real head-scratcher for economists as they ponder why the trade war hasn't set off another inflation outbreak yet with core goods prices sitting on store shelves seeing no change in May." Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, global co-CIO of multi-asset Solutions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management: "Inflation in May was lower than anticipated, suggesting the tariffs aren't having a large immediate impact because companies have been using existing inventories or slowly adjusting prices due to uncertain demand. While we might see some price increases on goods later, service prices are expected to remain stable, suggesting any rise in inflation is likely to be temporary." Ian Lyngen, head of U.S. rates at BMO Capital Markets: "CPI surprised on the downside across the board. … The yield curve is bull steepening as the slower trajectory of inflation has firmed rate cut expectations for later this year. On the margin, it is also supportive of next week's [Federal Reserve Summary of Economic Projections] signaling 50 bp of cuts in 2025." Ryan Weldon, investor director and portfolio manager at IFM Investments: "The softer services inflation lends itself to a slowing economy in the face of continued tariff anxiety and will support the Fed to come out of their wait-and-hold approach sooner. However, the Fed will still want to see several months of consistent inflation and jobs data and have more clarity on the Trump administration's tariff policy before resuming cuts." Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management: "With lower-than-expected numbers across the board (with the exception of headline YoY, which stayed constant), and a trade deal with China that was agreed to in London, the narrative around tariff-induced inflation should subside. However, CPI remains above 2% and even though the tariff rates are going to be less than originally feared, after they are implemented they will further increase the cost of goods." Skyler Weinand, chief investment officer at Regan Capital: "Wednesday's weaker-than-expected CPI opens the door to a Fed rate cut in September, since it's clear that the inflation data continues to move in the right direction even as we deal with tariff uncertainty. While employment is strong and the economic effects from tariffs are yet to be determined, the Fed would like to start easing again in the not too distant future to get in front of a possible recession in 2026" Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Financial Group: "Bottom line, a sigh of relief on the lower than expected inflation stats just as we search for where tariffs will work its way through the supply chain and end customer."
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US and China ‘back to square one' after two days of trade talks
Talks between the US and China are 'back to square one' after two days of trade negotiations in London failed to secure a major deal. Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump's commerce secretary, said the two sides had agreed on a 'framework' to put their trading relations back on track and repair the truce initially agreed in Geneva last month. There was little market reaction to the announcement at Lancaster House shortly after midnight, with the dollar strengthening a little and stock markets opening marginally higher. The two sides have until Aug 10 to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement to ease trade tensions, or US tariffs on China will snap back from about 30pc to 145pc, with China's levies on America increasing from 10pc to 125pc. Josh Lipsky, of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center in Washington, said: 'They are back to square one but that's much better than square zero.' Jim Reid, a Deutsche Bank analyst, added: 'While the mood music has stayed positive, investors may be wary of the pattern that emerged during the previous US-China trade talks in 2018-19, when apparently constructive in-person meetings seemed to take a step back as the negotiating teams returned to their capitals. 'So there's perhaps a little disappointment this morning that we haven't yet got a bigger announcement, even though there's time to hear the full conclusions of the meeting.' Senior officials from Washington and Beijing had gathered in London after accusations from both sides that they had violated the terms of the deal made in Switzerland. Mr Trump and Xi Jinping held a call last week that Mr Lutnick said 'gave the fundamental foundation on which we were able to reach agreement'. Mr Lutnick said: 'We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus and the call between the two presidents. 'The idea is we're going to go back and speak to President Trump and make sure he approves it. 'They're going to go back and speak to President Xi and make sure he approves it, and if that is approved, we will then implement the framework.' In a separate briefing, Li Chenggang, China's vice commerce minister, said a trade framework had been reached in principle that would be taken back to US and Chinese leaders. Mr Lutnick said China's restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US would be resolved as a 'fundamental' part of the framework agreement. He also said the agreement would remove some of the recent US export restrictions, but did not provide details. Kathleen Brooks, the research director at XTB, a trading platform, said: 'Overall, the US-China trade agreement is taking its time, and it could test the market's patience.' Meanwhile, the European Union reportedly believes it could extend its trade negotiations with the US beyond the initial deadline next month. The EU thinks there could be scope for further talks if it agrees a deal in principle by July 9, which is considered its best-case scenario, according to Bloomberg. The Trump administration is scheduled to enforce 50pc tariffs on EU goods beyond that date unless a deal is reached. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Inflation holds steady as data shows how prices are faring after Trump's ‘Liberation Day' tariffs
Inflation held steady last month, according to data that gives the first glimpse of how prices are faring since President Donald Trump's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs. Consumer prices rose 0.1 percent on a monthly basis in May, while annual inflation stood at 2.4 percent, according to the Department of Labor's consumer price index. The report captures the period after Trump unveiled his global reciprocal tariffs in April and provides some insight as to whether businesses are bearing the brunt of the duties themselves or passing them on to customers. Analysts predicted to see a bigger increase, but some still warn the future is uncertain because tariffs keep changing. 'So far, inflation risks from higher tariffs are subdued,' Win Thin, global head of markets strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman, told Bloomberg. 'Nonetheless, US protectionist trade policy and uncertainty about the ultimate level of tariffs are downside risks to growth and upside risk to inflation. Bottom line: the fundamental USD downtrend is intact.' Since Trump announced his global reciprocal tariffs and the stock market was spooked, many of the duties were paused. However, 10 percent tariffs for most countries remain. Inflation has been slow to respond to the tariffs as most retailers are selling merchandise accumulated before the import duties took effect. Economists said that the reduction in the scale of some trade tariffs may have 'helped to restrain cost increases thus far,' Wells Fargo's Sarah House and Nicole Cervi said. 'That said, as the higher tariff regime persists, shielding consumers from the costs is likely to become more challenging,' the economists added. 'Only a few goods prices likely rose as a result of the new tariffs in May,' Pantheon Macroeconomics economists Samuel Tombs and Oliver Allen said in a note, Bloomberg reports. 'June will be a different story — while some providers of discretionary services probably cut prices or kept them low to sustain demand.' Walmart warned customers last month that they could see price rises because of the trade tariffs. The retailer's chief financial officer John David Rainey said that the tariffs are 'still too high.' 'It's more than any supplier can absorb. And so I'm concerned that consumer is going to start seeing higher prices,' he said. 'You'll begin to see that, likely towards the tail end of this month, and then certainly much more in June.' Reuters contributed reporting
