Mark Carney has told Donald Trump that Canada “is not for sale” as the president raised the prospect of the country becoming the 51st US state while welcoming the prime minister to the White House. Carney won election last month promising to “stand up” to Trump, who has imposed tariffs on some Canadian products and sometimes talks about annexing the country.The former central banker responded with a firm but measured tone after the president proposed a “wonderful marriage” of incorporating Canada into the US.Despite a strained relationship recently between the once-close neighbours, the two men also lavished praise on each other in what was a largely cordial Oval Office meeting.Trump has imposed general tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico and sector-specific import taxes on cars, some of which have been suspended pending negotiations. The US president, who accuses Canada of not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl south, has levied similar duties on steel and aluminium.Tuesday’s meeting was the first time the two had met since Carney won Canada’s general election on 28 April, a victory many have credited to concerns in that country about Trump. But the two leaders began with warm words, with Trump describing Carney as “a very talented person”. He also hailed his guest’s election win as “one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics, maybe even greater than mine”.Carney said Trump was a “transformational president”, with “a relentless focus on the American worker, securing your border, and securing the world” and said he had “revitalised” Nato.But friction arose when Trump again argued that Canada would be better off as part of the US. Carney came prepared with a carefully worded response. “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” he told pro …
