CARNEY CONFIRMS HE WILL ATTEND 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW IN WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Canada’s Prime Minster Mark Carney said on Wednesday that he will be participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony in Washington next week and will have an opportunity to meet with US President Donald Trump.

“I will be participating, alongside President Trump, as the co-host,” Carney told reporters, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

He said the event is highly significant for Canada and noted that he will meet Trump there.

Carney emphasised that Washington’s readiness to return to the negotiating table with Canada would be a “fundamental point” for the talks over trade.

“We are ready to re-engage on those talks when the United States wants to re-engage,” he added.

Carney also said that his phone talk with Trump on Tuesday “was not newsy.”

In late July, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to increase tariffs on Canadian goods that are not compliant with the USMCA from 25 per cent to 35 per cent, effective August 1, after the neighbouring countries failed to reach an agreement within the deadline set by Washington. Canada lifted all retaliatory tariffs on US-made goods covered by the agreement on August 22, with the exception of steel and aluminum products, as well as automobiles.

Carney announced on Wednesday that Canada will impose a 25 per cent global tariff on steel-related products. He pointed out that this measure is global in nature and is not specifically directed against the United States.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA/NOVOSTI