At a fundraising event in Southampton, N.Y., U.S. Vice-President JD Vance shared insights on the recent trade deal with Canada, highlighting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s attempt to appear tougher than U.S. President Donald Trump. Vance praised Conservative MP Jamil Jivani’s role as a valuable advocate for Canada during the negotiations.
During the private function, Vance described Carney as a “very sweet guy” and emphasized his amicable relationship with him. However, he humorously pointed out Carney’s attempts to project strength against Trump, despite compromises made by Canada on various issues.
Vance credited Jivani, describing him as a “random MP” with a positive rapport with the U.S., for being an effective advocate behind the scenes. In contrast, Vance dismissed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as a “non-entity” in the trade negotiations.
The White House and the vice-president’s office did not respond to requests for comments on the matter. Trump recently announced a three-day delay on new tariffs targeting Canadian products following discussions with Carney and intensive bilateral negotiations.
Reports suggest that the trade deal involves the U.S. reducing tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles, with Carney urging premiers to restock American alcoholic beverages in Canadian stores. The specific terms of the agreement, including concessions from Canada, remain unclear.
Vance emphasized that the goal of the negotiations was to influence Canada’s behavior, aligning more closely with Trump’s approach. He highlighted the evolving dynamics between the two countries, shaped by Trump’s tariffs and confrontational stance towards former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Jivani, a close friend of Vance since their time at Yale, has played a significant role in the negotiations, advocating for mutual benefits in areas such as energy and automobile tariffs. Vance praised Jivani’s contributions and highlighted his active involvement in the process.
Jivani’s engagement with the Trump administration has sparked internal tensions within the Canadian Conservative Party, particularly with Poilievre, who has criticized Jivani’s approach and called for tariff-free deals with the U.S. Despite differing opinions within the party, Jivani continues to engage with U.S. officials to advance Canada’s interests in trade negotiations.