U.S. President Donald Trump reported having a "very nice conversation" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday, despite ongoing trade tensions between the two countries. Trump made these comments aboard Air Force One on Thursday after leaving South Korea, where he attended meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group.

During an APEC dinner on Wednesday, Trump and Carney were seated at the same table. Trump told reporters, "I had a very nice conversation with him last night." Carney's office later confirmed the meeting, stating, "The Prime Minister had constructive conversations on various topics of interest with all participants, including the President of the United States."

Tensions have escalated recently due to Ontario's decision to air an advertisement featuring an old Ronald Reagan radio address that criticizes Trump's tariff policies. Trump has accused Canada and Carney of attempting to influence the U.S. Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear arguments regarding the legality of his tariffs on foreign goods next week.

Earlier in the week, Trump expressed reluctance to meet with Carney, stating, "I don’t want to meet with him. I’m not going to be meeting with them for a while. I’m very happy with the deal we have right now with Canada. We’re going to let it ride."

Upon arriving in South Korea, Trump took to social media to clarify his visit, saying, "For those that are asking, we didn’t come to South Korea to see Canada!" Meanwhile, Carney indicated in Malaysia that Canada is "ready when appropriate" to resume trade discussions with the U.S.

The dialogue between Trump and Carney comes at a critical time as both nations navigate complex trade relations and prepare for upcoming legal challenges regarding tariffs.