Carney and Trump are holding secret talks, US ambassador says

The US ambassador to Canada said Trump and Carney are trying to iron out a framework for a trade and security agreement, according to ambassador Peter Hoekstra.

I guess they're not a secret anymore if he's announcing it in Canada's largest newspaper.

Hoekstra said that top deputies are 'being held under a cone of silence' but that Trump and Carney are also speaking:

“The indications that they are talking and in communications regularly is a clear indicator to me that both sides recognize the importance and the urgency of moving this forward.”

The talks are solely between Canada and the US, not including Mexico:

Mr. Hoekstra said the Canadians and Americans are “laying out the perimeters” of a deal that could involve boosting US content in autos, improving US access to Canadian critical minerals and ensuring Canada plays a much bigger role in the Arctic. The talks also include increased defence spending, energy, border security, fentanyl as well as steel and aluminum.

We have been indicating this could come all week but this is the strongest sign yet.

There is a remarkable lack of self-awareness here:

“This is too important for it be managed by leaks. There is too much at stake. You are our second largest trading partner,” he said.

The timeline for a deal is unclear. Reports this week said it could come before the June 14 G7 but Hoekstra din't offer any timeline, besides to say it could be earlier or later than September.