North American Leaders Convene for First Trilateral Meeting Since Start of Trade Conflict
The heads of government from the three nations co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup—U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—took the stage together on Friday in Washington, D.C., marking their first trilateral in-person meeting since President Trump began imposing new tariffs on U.S. neighbors earlier this year. The brief, high-profile gathering took place on the sidelines of the official World Cup draw ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
While the event’s focus was on the draw for the expanded 48-team tournament, the primary diplomatic objective for Canada and Mexico was addressing the intensifying trade conflict with the U.S. and the uncertain future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). President Trump, upon his arrival at the event, confirmed to reporters that he would discuss “trade issues” with both leaders, stating, “We’re going to meet with both, and we’re getting along very well.”
This unprecedented meeting was critical for President Sheinbaum, as it was her first in-person encounter with President Trump since her inauguration last year. She previously confirmed her intention to use the brief interaction to discuss the remaining U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles from Mexico. Similarly, Prime Minister Carney’s office indicated that the Canadian leader sought to restart formal discussions regarding the tariffs and the upcoming mandatory review of the USMCA, which President Trump has recently threatened to let “expire” or renegotiate entirely. The image of the three leaders standing together underscores the complex relationship between the North American partners, who must now balance cooperation on the massive World Cup project with deeply contentious trade and immigration disputes.
