JOHANNESBURG — Prime Minister Mark Carney is not rushing to resume trade discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. He stated on Sunday that he will engage with Trump again "when it's appropriate." Carney anticipates a conversation with Trump within the next two weeks but is prepared for further discussions whenever the U.S. is ready to return to the negotiating table. "I look forward to speaking with the president soon, but I don’t have a burning issue to speak with the president about right now," Carney said. He made these comments during a news conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is attending the G20 Leaders' Summit, an event Trump did not attend. Last month, Trump halted trade talks due to his tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. This decision followed an anti-tariff advertising campaign by the Ontario provincial government, which featured clips of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs could lead to trade wars and negatively impact the American economy. In Parliament, Conservative members have criticized Carney for not making progress on the U.S. tariffs. Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus accused the Liberal government of failing to deliver on their promises regarding trade negotiations with Trump. "They were elected under false pretenses," Paul-Hus said during a recent question period. "They were supposed to find a solution to the problems with Donald Trump, but they have failed miserably." The Liberal government maintains that trade discussions naturally fluctuate and will eventually resume. Carney noted that both he and Trump have been occupied with other priorities. "I’ve been busy. We passed a budget — a budget that’s going to catalyze a trillion dollars of investment. We have launched new trade agreements. We’ve secured new investment in the country of a size not seen, arguably, before," Carney explained. "So, we’re busy, he’s got other things to do and we’ll re-engage when it’s appropriate." Canada is also preparing for broader negotiations regarding the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which is set for renewal next year. Steve Verheul, Canada’s former chief trade negotiator, has warned that the U.S. may increase pressure on Canada and Mexico during the review process by withholding support for an extension of the agreement. "They’re going to try to use that as leverage," Verheul told a House of Commons trade committee on October 30. "The period between January and June will be critical to the future of the CUSMA and to our trading relationship with the U.S."