Canada and the United States are making progress towards a trade deal, prime minister says

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday that he had held lengthy, substantive talks with American President Donald Trump and that the two countries were making progress towards a trade deal, though they had yet to reach an agreement.

Carney spoke in the Philippines, where he is on a state visit and meeting Southeast Asian leaders, part of a drive to deepen Canada's trade ties across Asia at a time when its commercial relationship with its largest partner has been strained. The progress comes after earlier negotiations between the two neighbours collapsed.

At the same visit, Canada announced the substantial conclusion of negotiations with ASEAN and the conclusion of separate negotiations with the Philippines. These are not agreements already in force: the Canadian government said both were moving toward signatures in 2027. It presented the new partnerships as part of an effort to reduce reliance on a single trading partner. ASEAN has almost 700 million people, while the Philippines has more than 110 million.

A firm line on European security

Carney also said his country would not walk away from NATO, and that the security architecture for a free Europe would be determined by a free Europe and the alliance, not by Russia.