U.S. Vice-President JD Vance shared insights on the recent trade agreement with Canada during a fundraising event held on Wednesday. Vance mentioned that Prime Minister Mark Carney attempted to display toughness compared to U.S. President Donald Trump. He acknowledged Conservative MP Jamil Jivani as a valuable supporter for Canada.
In audio recordings obtained from the private fundraiser in Southampton, N.Y., Vance described Carney as a “very amiable person” with whom he has a good relationship. However, Vance commented that Carney’s approach of trying to outdo Trump was amusing, as Canada made concessions on various issues despite Carney’s portrayal of it as a Canadian victory.
Vance highlighted the role of Jivani, emphasizing that the Conservative MP’s positive rapport with the U.S. has been beneficial in advocating for Canada behind the scenes. He also mentioned Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Canadian Conservatives, as insignificant in the trade negotiations.
The White House and Vance’s office had not responded to inquiries for comment. Trump recently announced a three-day delay in imposing new tariffs on Canadian products after discussions with Carney and intensified bilateral negotiations.
Vance expressed that the objective was to influence Canada’s behavior positively, noting a shift towards a more Trump-like direction. He underscored the importance of the ongoing negotiations led by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, where Jivani has been discreetly involved.
Jivani’s efforts in the negotiations, particularly in areas like energy and automobile tariffs, were commended by Vance. Their longstanding friendship, dating back to their time at Yale, has been pivotal in Jivani’s involvement in the trade discussions.
Jivani’s engagement with the Trump administration has caused tensions within the Canadian Conservative Party, notably with Poilievre advocating for tariff-free deals. The MP’s interactions with the U.S. government have sparked internal disagreements within the party, with Poilievre publicly differing with Jivani on trade war sentiments.