U.S. President Donald Trump has rescinded an invitation to Prime Minister Mark Carney to join his new "Board of Peace" — marking the latest upheaval in the relationship between Canada and the United States as a critical trade agreement is set to be reviewed.
In a post on social media Thursday night, Trump did not give details about why he was withdrawing Carney's invitation but called it "the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time."
Trump's post comes after Carney gave a widely-applauded speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday where he warned that the old world order is dead and urged middle powers to band together as larger ones try to pressure them through economic coercion.
Carney's comments sent ripples throughout the international community and his speech was cited by European leaders as they warned about a rupture in long-standing relationships.
The speech was also noticed by Trump, who in his own comments at the WEF summit on Wednesday, said "Canada gets a lot of freebies from us" and should be thankful.
"I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn't so grateful," Trump said. "But they should be grateful to us. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements."
Carney had pushed back on Trump's comments in Quebec City earlier Thursday, saying "Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in the economy, in security and in rich cultural exchange."
"But Canada doesn't live because of the United States," Carney said. "Canada thrives because we are Canadian."
It's unclear what ultimately led to Trump's Thursday night actions but members of his team had been critical of Carney's comments at the international gathering.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the Davos speech "political noise" and warned Ottawa's recent deal with China could upend negotiations of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, known as CUSMA, which are set to take place this year.
The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Earlier Thursday, Trump rolled out his new "Board of Peace" at the WEF summit but many world leaders, including Canada and most European allies, were not in attendance. Fewer than 20 countries were represented at the event, including Argentina, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria and Pakistan.
The peace board was initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza situation as part of Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan. As details emerged, it morphed into something far more ambitious.
The board became even more controversial when it was confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited to take part, despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Carney initially expressed an openness to join but later was more cautious, saying there were still many unanswered questions about the board's structure and the permanent membership fee of $1 billion.
It’s not clear how many nations have been asked to join the board, but at this point it appears Carney is the only world leader to have that invite rescinded — which could set the tone for a looming review of the trilateral trade pact with Canada, the United States and Mexico.
CUSMA was negotiated during the first Trump administration but since the president's return to the White House he has called the trade agreement "transitional," saying it may have served its purpose. Earlier this month, Trump said the trade pact was "irrelevant" to him.
CUSMA has shielded Canada from the worst of Trump's tariffs. Canada was hit with 35 per cent tariffs but those duties don't apply to goods compliant under the continental trade pact.
Canadian industries are still being hammered by separate duties on things like steel, aluminum, copper, lumber and cabinets.
Carney had worked to lower tensions and find a tariff off-ramp during two meetings at the White House in Washington last year, where Trump showered the prime minister with compliments.
Bilateral negotiations, however, have been frozen since October when Trump was angered by an Ontario-sponsored ad quoting former president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
Picture Courtesy: AP Photo/Evan Vucci
