Trump Downplays Trade Talks, Says He Will Dictate 'Fair' Terms

But He Casts Doubt on Whether New Canadian PM Will Be Able to Strike Deal

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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said he would prescribe tariff levels and trade concessions for partners looking to avoid higher duties, appearing to move away from the idea that he would engage in back-and-forth negotiations.

"We're going to put very fair numbers down, and we're going to say, 'Here's what this country, what we, want'. And, congratulations, we have a deal. And they'll either say, 'great', and they'll start shopping, or they'll say, 'not good'," Mr. Trump said on May 6 at the White House as he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

"It's going to be a very fair number, it'll be a low number. We're not looking to hurt countries," he added.

The May 6 meeting comes just a week after the Canadian Prime Minister's Liberal Party won an election in which Mr. Carney vowed to strengthen his country's economic independence and protect its sovereignty from the US President, who has openly mused about making Canada the 51st US state.

With Mr. Carney, Mr. Trump indicated that he would strike a friendlier relationship than the one he had with former prime minister Justin Trudeau, whom the US President said he "didn't like".

The President, however, cast doubt on whether Mr. Carney would be able to strike a deal.