U.S. Vice-President JD Vance shared his thoughts on the recent trade agreement with Canada during a fundraising event on Wednesday. Vance mentioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney attempted to appear tougher than U.S. President Donald Trump, while praising Conservative MP Jamil Jivani for his support of Canada.
At the private gathering in Southampton, N.Y., Vance described Carney as a “very sweet guy” with whom he gets along well. However, he humorously remarked that Carney’s attempt to outdo Trump was amusing, considering Canada made concessions on several issues.
Vance highlighted Jivani’s role as an effective advocate behind the scenes, noting that the Conservative MP maintained a positive relationship with the U.S. delegation. Vance also downplayed the significance of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the trade negotiations, referring to him as a “non-entity.”
The White House and Vance’s office had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. President Trump recently announced a three-day postponement of new tariffs on Canadian goods following discussions with Carney and intense bilateral talks.
In a statement, Trump expressed satisfaction with the deal, emphasizing positive relations with Canadian leadership. The agreement reportedly involves reduced tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles in exchange for reinstating American alcohol in Canadian stores.
The specifics of Canada’s concessions remain unclear, but Trump asserted that tariffs on American agricultural products would be eliminated. Minister Dominic LeBlanc has returned to Washington for further negotiations with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of an approaching deadline.
Vance underscored the U.S.’s intention to influence Canada’s behavior through the trade agreement. He emphasized that while Trump aims for mutually beneficial outcomes, the objective is to steer Canada towards a more favorable stance aligned with U.S. interests.
The U.S.-Canada relationship faced challenges due to Trump’s policies, including tariffs and territorial threats. Vance acknowledged Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as primary negotiators, but noted his active involvement due to his rapport with Jivani.
Jivani’s discreet involvement in the negotiations was highlighted by Vance, who commended his efforts in advocating for favorable terms in energy and automotive sectors. The longstanding friendship between Vance and Jivani, both Yale alumni, has played a significant role in their collaboration.
Vance praised Jivani’s dedication to Canada’s success, emphasizing the MP’s commitment to achieving positive outcomes in trade negotiations. Jivani’s ongoing engagement with U.S. officials has caused internal divisions within the Canadian Conservative Party, particularly with Poilievre advocating for tariff-free agreements.
Jivani’s proactive approach to engaging with the Trump administration has been met with mixed reactions within the party. Poilievre’s differing stance on trade negotiations with the U.S. underscores the internal debates within the Canadian political landscape.