US vice president, Canadian premier hold trade talks in Rome
Meeting focuses on 'shared interests and goals,' including 'fair trade policies,' says White House
ISTANBUL
US Vice President JD Vance and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Sunday in Rome for discussions focused on trade amid a dispute over tariffs.
The informal meeting at the US Ambassador's residence centered on "shared interests and goals," including "fair trade policies, and the two nations' continued lasting relationship," according to a statement by the White House.
The talks took place on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass at the Vatican, coming just weeks after Carney's high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump over tariffs.
US-Canada relations have deteriorated significantly during Trump's second term, marked by substantial trade barriers. Earlier this year, Washington imposed a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports, with a 10% levy on Canadian oil and energy exports.
Trump has also repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state, characterizing annexation as a solution to trade disputes and security concerns – a proposal that Canadian officials have firmly rejected as a threat to Canada’s sovereignty.
