N.B. MP said Trump 'very interested' in talks with Carney during first Oval Office visit
Beauséjour MP Dominic LeBlanc called White House meeting a relations 'reset'
New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc visited the Oval Office for the first time this week to join Prime Minister Mark Carney for a sit-down with President Donald Trump.
The topic of conversation was economics and LeBlanc said Trump was "very respectful and very interested" when Carney spoke — even when the cameras were off.
"That sort of constructive, cordial, businesslike tone continued after the public portion that people saw in the Oval Office," said LeBlanc.
This was Carney's first face-to-face meeting with Trump since his recent election win.
Trump was interested in what the two countries could do together to "deal with other global economic threats, obviously you can think of China," said LeBlanc.
LeBlanc said Trump shared that he followed the Canadian election and watched Carney's debate prior to election day.
Trump was also interested in the projects Carney discussed during his campaign.
Dominic LeBlanc looks back at Canada’s visit to the White HouseLeBlanc said Trump listened "carefully" when Carney made his arguments about why tariffing each other is "not in the economic interest of both countries."
The U.S. has imposed steel and aluminum tariffs of 25 per cent and a 25 per cent tariff on some cars and car parts.
As well, Canada faces a 25 per cent tariff on all goods that are not part of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico agreement, with some exceptions.
Progress on the home front
Canada has responded to the trade war with the U.S. by trying to strengthen its domestic economy. Even after a positive meeting in Washington, LeBlanc hopes the interest to strengthen interprovincial trade will continue.
"I hope it doesn't in any way diminish the enthusiasm and the desire of Canadians to … build one truly Canadian economy, remove these interprovincial trade barriers."
LeBlanc said the government's "No. 1 objective" is to remove tariffs but that doesn't change the reliability of the U.S. as a trading partner.
"The prime minister has said, 'We can no longer rely on the United States to the extent we did as an economic partner.' We need to look at other economic partnerships."
Leaving
the White House with Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten
Hillman, Dominic LeBlanc continues to work on tariff supports at home.
The federal government is working with provinces to 'recycle' tariff
revenue to those affected by U.S. tariffs. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
For LeBlanc, those new "partnerships" start at home in Canada and then extend to "Europe and other partners."
LeBlanc reiterated the government's pledge that all revenue generated from retaliatory tariffs will be "recycled" to support affected businesses and workers.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has been a "first-class partner" while working through these plans, according to LeBlanc.
Good 'reset' for relationship
LeBlanc appreciated Trump's demeanour and said the two groups had a productive working lunch following the Oval Office meeting.
He said the meeting was a good "reset" on relations between the two countries. Trump publicly expressed his displeasure for working with Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland in the past.
Most recently, LeBlanc was minister of international trade under Carney and has held many prominent cabinet positions, including finance minister under Trudeau.
LeBlanc has been an MP in the Beauséjour riding — which encompasses Sackville, Shediac and Richibucto — since 2000.
He said he was "happy to have the opportunity" to join Carney on the trip.
LeBlanc also joined Canadian MPs Mélanie Joly and David McGuinty on the couches of the Oval Office, and others took part in the private lunch.
On the U.S. side, Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick took part.
LeBlanc said he heard from Lutnick while travelling back from Washington.
"I spoke to Secretary Lutnick on Tuesday evening for 20 minutes. So we're continuing, I hope, a process that will lead to those tariffs being lifted," he said.
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Trump says it'd be 'stupid' to reject plane offered as gift from Qatari royal family
'I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,' Trump tells reporters
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed ethical concerns about his plan to accept an airplane as a gift from the Qatari royal family, saying on Monday it would be "stupid" to turn down the generous offer.
The $400-million US luxury plane, which would be outfitted to serve as Air Force One, would be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the U.S. government. News of the offer drew immediate criticism from Democrats and advocates of good government, who warned it was a conflict of interest that could influence presidential decisions.
Trump said the Boeing 747-8 airplane would eventually be donated to his presidential library — a repository housing research materials from his administration — and that he had no plans to use it for personal reasons after leaving office.
"I think it's a great gesture from Qatar. I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer," Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a trip to the Middle East.
"I mean, I could be a stupid person saying, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane.'"
The Republican president attributed the offer to gratitude for U.S. help in the defence of countries in the region including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, all stops on his itinerary this week.
Trump also said accepting it was a practical decision, and that he was disappointed that Boeing has taken so long to deliver the new Air Force One planes he commissioned during his first term as president.
Likely unconstitutional, critics say
Critics of the offer said it was unethical and likely unconstitutional.
Democratic senators Brian Schatz, Chris Murphy, Cory Booker and Chris Coons said in a statement that Trump's acceptance of such a gift would create a clear conflict of interest, raise serious national security questions and invite foreign influence.
Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, said it would distract from the U.S. air force's efforts to speed up delivery of the actual new Air Force One fleet.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said legal details surrounding the donation were still being worked out and that the Trump administration was not worried about what the Qataris might ask for in return.
U.S. and China agree to slash most tariffs for 90 days
Sides will continue to negotiate after having temporarily set tariffs over 100%
U.S., China to lower tariffs for 90 days while trade talks continueU.S. and Chinese officials said Monday they had reached a deal to roll back most of their recent tariffs and call a 90-day truce in their trade war for more talks on resolving their trade disputes.
Stock markets rose sharply as the globe's two major economic powers took a step back from a clash that has unsettled the global economy.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop its 145 per cent tariff rate on Chinese goods by 115 percentage points to 30 per cent, while China agreed to lower its rate on U.S. goods by the same amount to 10 per cent.
Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the tariff reductions at a news conference in Geneva. Bessent said at the news briefing after two days of talks that the high tariff levels would have amounted to a complete blockage of each side's goods, an outcome neither side wants.
"The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling," Bessent said.
U.S.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks during a news conference
after two days of closed-door discussions on trade between the United
States and China, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone/The Associated Press)
Trump, in response to a reporter at the White House on Monday, said tariffs would "go up substantially higher," though not to 145 per cent, if a comprehensive deal isn't reached within 90 days. He expressed confidence a deal would be struck in that timeframe.
Trump said the reduced tariff rates didn't apply to tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum or the potentially upcoming import taxes on pharmaceutical drugs.
China's Commerce Ministry said the two sides agreed to cancel 91 per cent in tariffs on each other's goods and suspend another 24 per cent in tariffs for 90 days, bringing the total reduction to 115 percentage points.
The Ministry called the agreement an important step for the resolution of the two countries' differences and said it lays the foundation for further co-operation. It said it hopes the U.S. will stop "the erroneous practice of unilateral tariff hikes."
Markets react positively
There was no mention from either side of the de minimis exception. Trump signed an executive order on April 2 to end the exemption — a rule that allows small packages worth less than $800 US to enter the U.S. tax free — for packages from China and Hong Kong. Companies like Shein and Temu, both of which were founded in China, have used the rule to their advantage, shipping orders to the U.S. as individual packages rather than grouping them in larger shipping crates.
But as trade envoys from the world's two biggest economies blinked, finding ways to pull back from potentially massive disruptions to world trade and their own markets, investors rejoiced.
Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, welcomed the news but expressed caution. The tariffs only were suspended for 90 days and there is great uncertainty over what lies ahead, he said in a statement.
"Businesses need predictability to maintain normal operations and make investment decisions. The chamber therefore hopes to see both sides continue to engage in dialogue to resolve differences, and avoid taking measures that will disrupt global trade and result in collateral damage for those caught in the crossfire," Eskelund said.
Trump last month raised U.S. tariffs on China to a combined 145 per cent and China retaliated by hitting American imports with a 125 per cent levy. Tariffs that high essentially amount to the two countries boycotting each other's products, disrupting trade that last year topped $660 billion.
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on countries worldwide, but its fight with China has been the most intense. Trump's import taxes on goods from China include a 20 per cent charge meant to pressure Beijing into doing more to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States. The remaining 125 per cent involve a dispute dating back to Trump's first term and comes atop tariffs he levied on China then, which means the total tariffs on some Chinese goods can exceed 145 per cent.
U.S., China agree to 90-day tariff reduction after negotiations
Quick Hit:
The United States and China have agreed to reduce tariffs for 90 days following trade negotiations in Geneva, offering temporary relief to global markets. The deal marks a pause in the escalating economic conflict, with both countries pledging to resume talks during the truce.
Key Details:
- The U.S. will lower tariffs on Chinese imports from April levels by 24 percentage points, maintaining a 10% base rate.
- China will implement a matching reduction and suspend additional non-tariff measures targeting American goods.
- S&P 500 futures jumped 3%, while U.S. bond yields climbed as investors reacted to signs of de-escalation.
Diving Deeper:
After weeks of mounting economic tension, the United States and China on Monday jointly announced a 90-day reduction in tariffs, signaling a temporary easing of the trade war that has unnerved businesses, investors, and policymakers across the globe.
The agreement, reached during weekend negotiations in Geneva, was confirmed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “We had very robust discussions. Both sides showed great respect to what was a very positive process,” Bessent said in remarks to reporters. According to Bessent, the U.S. will lower its tariffs to 30%, while China will cut its rates to 10% during this period—a proportional rollback from their respective April highs.
The White House clarified that the reduction affects tariffs announced by President Trump on April 2, cutting them by 24 percentage points while keeping the base ad valorem rate of 10%. In response, Beijing agreed not only to match the tariff rollback but also to lift administrative barriers and non-tariff measures it had imposed since April.
Both countries are expected to implement the agreed measures by Wednesday. The joint statement released following the talks indicated that discussions will continue over the coming months as the two sides explore a longer-term resolution.
Markets reacted quickly and positively. S&P 500 futures surged over 3% on the news, providing a shot of optimism after weeks of uncertainty. The U.S. Dollar Index, which had been under pressure due to investor anxiety about America’s trade posture, rose more than 1%. Meanwhile, bond markets adjusted sharply, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury climbing to 4.445%, its highest point since early April.
While the 90-day pause offers breathing room, the underlying issues remain unresolved. Businesses that had delayed orders due to tariff costs may now rush to restock, a move that could cause short-term volatility or even a demand shock in some sectors. Economists warn that without a longer-term agreement, the reprieve may prove fleeting.
For now, though, the breakthrough offers a glimmer of hope. It’s a notable win for President Trump’s strategy of tough negotiations, underscoring his administration’s commitment to putting American interests first while forcing adversaries to the table. The outcome stands in stark contrast to the previous administration's conciliatory tone and may reinforce the argument for a more assertive U.S. economic posture on the world stage.
As Trump heads to the Middle East, fixing explosive crises takes a back seat to deal-making
U.S. president is skipping Israel while he focuses on forging stronger investment ties with Arab Gulf states
In the days before his trip overseas, U.S. President Donald Trump moved rapidly to tamp down a long list of potential distractions that could overshadow his hugely significant visit to the Middle East.
Help broker a shaky ceasefire between nuclear powers India and Pakistan. Check.
Outline a plan to feed starving Gaza, even though international humanitarian groups have deemed it unworkable and insufficient. Check.
And obtain a promise from Houthi militants to stop attacking western shipping in the Red Sea, even though missile launches against Israel continue. Check.
Given the chaotic nature of his presidency and the surreal speed at which global events seem to move with Trump in charge at the White House, the quick wins he's seeking may be fleeting.
Nonetheless, Trump is poised to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first big international trip of his second term at both a precarious and opportune time.
U.S.
President Donald Trump is seen inside the Oval Office of the White
House, in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Trump will head to the Middle
East on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura/Reuters)
Around two million people in Gaza are at risk of starvation because of Israel's three-month-long blockade of the territory; sectarian violence in Syria has left that country teetering; and the spectre of a major war between Israel and Iran looms over the region.
And yet, Trump appears intent on parking — at least for this trip — some of those issues, preferring instead to focus on the region's boardrooms and investment forums rather than its battlefields.
Along with the stop in Riyadh, Trump will also visit two other stable, wealthy Gulf countries: Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He'll attend business gatherings, presumably ink contracts and attempt to drum up big bucks in a region that has money to spend.
"It's deals, deals, deals," said Neil Quilliam of Chatham House, a London-based think-tank.
Trump says final details of U.K. trade agreement still to come"He seems to recognize the three Gulf countries ... as key partners for the U.S. and he's established very strong personal links, especially with [Saudi crown prince and de facto leader] Mohammed bin Salman."
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS, as he's known, has previously said his kingdom is prepared to invest more than $600 billion US in the United States during Trump's term as president.
The other Gulf countries have also anted up, giving the deal-obsessed president the irresistible possibility of boasting about landing over a trillion dollars in new business.
No Israel
Notably, Trump has chosen to bypass Israel on his trip.
It's a significant omission given the Jewish state's status as one of the U.S.'s most important strategic allies — and perhaps also indicative of a deepening animus between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Thursday, the office of the UN Human Rights Commission put out a searing statement, imploring the world's most powerful countries to intervene in Gaza, charging that they must end "the unfolding genocide or watch it end life in Gaza."
In the past, Israel has refuted the accusations of genocide, slamming the UN as an antisemtic institution and claiming that its military does not deliberately target civilians.
By proposing a solution — establishing food hubs in Gaza run by U.S. contractors— Trump may be hoping to, if only temporarily, diffuse a significant trouble spot with his Gulf hosts.
Palestinians
displaced by the Israeli military offensive shelter in tents near the
rubble of houses in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, on
Thursday. (Mahmoud Issa/Reuters)
His earlier musings about turning Gaza into a property developers' dream "riviera"— what some human rights advocates likened to ethnic cleansing — was met with disgust throughout the Arab world.
And when Trump went on to suggest that Saudi Arabia could give up part of its desert to create a new Palestinian homeland, Prince Mohammed's officials issued terse statements saying no way, never.
"My understanding is that in the public space, there's going to be no conversation around this," Quilliam said of Israel's war in Gaza or the future of Palestinians.
"Across the Arab world, it's the No. 1 issue. But I don't see them [Trump and Prince Mohammed] butting heads or coming to any clear or common understanding. I think the emphasis of this visit is going to be economic."
Powerful motivations
Both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have powerful motivations to keep the focus squarely on money.
Under Prince Mohammed, the country is undertaking what amounts to an extreme makeover.
Saudi Arabia has a terrible reputation on human rights in the West.
Public beheadings — there were 128 in 2024— and the 2018 murder and dismemberment of crown prince critic Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi security forces are just two of many examples human rights campaigners decry.
An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia in 2018. (Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters)
But others emphasize the social transformations in the kingdom in recent years that they see as positive.
Women are no longer shut out of jobs and public life. Mixing between men and women in public is now common. And wearing head or face coverings for women is optional, not mandatory.
Prince Mohammed has also been trying to position his country as a force for stability in the region and the world by mending fences with longtime arch rival Iran and attempting to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
But it's with the crown prince's efforts to transition his country away from oil to a more diversified economy that the Saudis may need U.S. help the most.
On
the eve of Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Iranian Foreign Minister
Abbas Araqchi meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan
Al Saud in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. (Reuters)
Many of Prince Mohammed's outrageously expensive futuristic projects, such as the Neom city in the desert, are squeezing Saudi revenues.
Neom was initially pitched as a $500 million US venture, but last year the first phase alone was projected to cost more than $1.2 trillion, with the final bill for the immense linear glass city potentially topping $8 trillion.
So lining up safer bets, such as joint ventures with the U.S. over critical minerals, are now high on the Saudi shopping list for Trump's visit.
No to normalization
Just as the two leaders likely won't be resolving much on Gaza, they also likely won't be talking about normalization with Israel.
Even after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, U.S. officials under then-president Joe Biden continued to prod the Saudis into accepting a grand deal with Israel — diplomatic recognition in exchange for economic opportunities.
No longer, though.
"An Israeli-Saudi peace deal is almost certainly beyond reach in the foreseeable future," Royal United Services Institute fellow H.A. Hellyer wrote recently.
An
owner of a traditional sandal shop takes his afternoon tea in the
historic old city known as 'Al-Balad' in Jeddah, on April 21. (Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters)
"Riyadh knows Israel's standing among Saudis, Arabs and Muslims globally has hit rock bottom. To then embrace Israel now would be an act of political self-immolation," he said.
Besides, it seems the United States is prepared to drop its objections to a Saudi civilian nuclear program, removing one of the U.S.'s biggest bargaining chips to get Prince Mohammed to strike a deal with Israel.
The Middle East has played an unusually large role in the early weeks and months of Trump's presidency, given the intense focus on Gaza, Iran and Arab deal making.
But in a new report, the Washington-based Middle East Institute said Trump's "zigzagging style," mixed messages and use of tariffs as an instrument of coercion have all combined to create immense confusion about U.S. objectives in the region.
For example, the institute says Trump expended considerable energy to initially cajole both Hamas and Israel into accepting a ceasefire — but that Trump has been unsuccessful at pressuring Israel to halt its war since Netanyahu broke the ceasefire three months ago.
The group gave Trump's Israel policy an "F."
It says Trump has done better on restarting nuclear talks with Iran (a "B" grade) but by promoting unworkable plans, such as the "Gaza Riviera," the U.S. risks weakening its influence in the region at a critical time.
Trump may, however, have a few surprises up his sleeve.
The new president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also just happens to be in the region and there are hints the two men may meet in what would be a historic encounter.
For Trump, who values showmanship over most everything else, it may be too good an opportunity to pass up.
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From: Donald Trump Jr.<donjr@email.donjr.com>
Date: Mon, May 12, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Subject: US, China agree to tariff reduction
To: Friend <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
