Ottawa, March 28 (NationPress) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that he plans to have a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump to address the ongoing trade disputes within the next couple of days.

During a press briefing on Thursday, the Prime Minister revealed that Trump's office reached out to him on Wednesday evening to set up the call.

If it occurs, it will mark the first direct communication between the two leaders, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

After leading a meeting of the Cabinet Committee focused on Canada-US Relations and National Security, Carney stated that Canada would respond to the US auto tariffs with retaliatory trade measures.

The response is designed to have maximum impact in the US while minimizing effects in Canada. Carney emphasized that no options are off the table to protect Canada and its workforce from US tariffs.

"The previous relationship we had with the US, which was built on deeper economic integration and close security cooperation, is a thing of the past," Carney declared, pledging to resist any attempts to undermine Canada.

On Wednesday, Carney introduced a strategic response fund worth 2 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $1.4 billion) aimed at strengthening the Canadian auto industry.

Trump also announced on Wednesday plans for a 25 percent tariff on all vehicles not manufactured in the US, set to take effect on April 2.

This proposed levy on vehicle imports could have a devastating impact on the Canadian auto sector, which supports around 500,000 jobs.

Following Trump’s announcement, Carney paused his campaign for the Canadian election on April 28 to return to Ottawa for a meeting with Cabinet members discussing strategies related to the trade conflict with the US.

He labeled Trump's auto tariffs as "unjustified" and claimed they violate existing trade agreements between the two nations.

Carney warned that Trump's actions have permanently changed the dynamics of US-Canada relations, asserting that no matter what future trade agreements are made, there will be "no turning back".

"The previous relationship we had with the United States based on deep economic ties and security collaboration is over," he stated.

Carney reaffirmed that Canada would retaliate against the auto tariffs.

"Our approach to these latest tariffs will be to fight, protect, and build," Carney added.

"We will counter the US tariffs with our own retaliatory measures designed to have the most significant impact in the United States while minimizing effects here in Canada," he further explained.

Carney took over from Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister on March 14.

It is customary for a new Canadian leader to prioritize a phone call with the US President soon after taking office, but Carney and Trump have yet to speak.

Carney has indicated that while he is open to discussions with Trump, he will not engage in serious trade negotiations until the President shows Canada "respect"—particularly by halting his repeated threats of annexation.

"For me, there are two essential conditions for negotiations with the United States: first, respect for our sovereignty as a nation... apparently, that's a lot for him to grasp," Carney stated.

"There must be a comprehensive dialogue between us, addressing both our economic and security concerns," he concluded.