Montreal, Canada - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said President Donald Trump is still crucial to future trade negotiations despite his brutal midterm election defeat.
Carney implied that Ottawa will continue to focus on negotiating with White House officials in its quest for a trade deal, instead of holding in-depth conversations with Democratic representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Democrats dominated in the midterm elections, seizing dozens of House and Senate seats from the Republicans and securing themselves a majority in both congressional chambers come January.
One of the key issues which secured the so-called "blue tsunami" last week was anger over Trump's tariff policy, which has had a huge impact on the US economy and alienated Canada, one of Washington's closest allies.
"What is clear is that the people who decide on trade agreements are the executive in the United States over the next two or three years," Carney told reporters in Montreal. "The President, the executive, and Americans, not necessarily legislators."
His comment came in direct response to an attempt by Quebec officials to get involved in ongoing trade negotiations, contacting numerous officials and representatives. The issue has caused a serious headache for Carney's government.
"In a negotiation, it's always a good idea to have one negotiator. And that is the government's responsibility," he said in a thinly-veiled jab at Quebec's state government.
"It's good to sit down," he said when asked about future one-on-one discussion between him and Trump. "But it's not absolutely necessary."