Carney says he is available for call with Trump, but on Canada's terms

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney looks on during his Liberal Party election campaign tour, in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada Mar 24, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable

New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday he was available for a call with US President Donald Trump but would do so "on our terms as a sovereign country".

Carney was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Party on Mar 9, automatically becoming prime minister. Calls with the US president traditionally take place soon afterwards but the two men have yet to speak.

"I'm available for a call, but you know, we're going to talk on our terms as a sovereign country, not as what he pretends we are," Carney told reporters in Newfoundland on the second day of a general election campaign.

Trump has threatened tariffs on Canadian exports and often muses about annexing Canada, comments which Carney says are disrespectful and unhelpful.

Carney also said he assumed Trump was waiting to see the result before calling the winner.