Carney and Trump are holding direct talks to drop tariffs [Video]

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are having direct discussions to reach a trade deal and lift tariffs.

Sources first confirmed the calls with CBC/Radio-Canada and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly later told reporters that Carney and Trump are talking to each other.

A senior government source, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said the two leaders have had a few phone calls in the evenings and exchanged text messages about trade since Carney’s visit to the White House last month. 

Sources said the conversations are aimed at reaching an agreement on the trade war launched by the U.S. against Canada.

Carney and Trump have talked openly about a desire to chart a new economic and security deal, but the Canada-U.S. relationship appeared to hit a snag earlier this week when Trump doubled tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

The tariffs, now at 50 per cent, are a further blow to the …