Trump claims Gaza ceasefire progress, plans Canada tariff talks
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US President Donald Trump says US negotiators joined Gaza talks and will discuss lowering tariffs with Canada’s Mark Carney to ease trade tensions.
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President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)
US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that he sees promising progress toward a potential Gaza ceasefire deal, announcing that an American delegation has departed to take part in the ongoing negotiations.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East, not just in Gaza, but beyond.”
Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed over 67,100 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, in relentless bombardments across the Gaza Strip. The attacks have rendered the enclave uninhabitable, causing starvation and disease among civilians.
Trump’s 20-point plan, unveiled on September 29, calls for the release of all "Israeli" captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
The US plan to disarm the resistance, as complicit in the genocide, without guarantees risks repeating history, as the Israeli regime has shown after previous short ceasefires. Without enforceable mechanisms to protect civilians and ensure compliance, a pause in hostilities could quickly collapse, giving the Israeli occupation regime, which has shown complete disregard for international humanitarian and customary law, the pretext to resume large-scale attacks and continue its genocidal campaign in Gaza, leaving the population once again exposed to starvation, displacement, and mass civilian casualties.
Talks with Canada’s Carney on trade
Later in the day, Trump told reporters that he will discuss lowering tariffs on several Canadian industries in an upcoming meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “We’re looking at reducing tariffs on some key sectors: energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, to strengthen our economic ties,” Trump said.
The meeting is expected to focus on recalibrating trade terms between Washington and Ottawa, amid recent disputes over energy exports and cross-border supply chains.
Small businesses are reportedly bearing the brunt of the trade dispute, with many struggling under the weight of retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada in response to US measures. Business owners argue that these countermeasures, while politically symbolic, are proving more damaging domestically than the original US restrictions.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged in mid-July that progress in the negotiations remained limited. He noted that several critical sectors, including steel, aluminum, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and lumber, continue to face major hurdles, making a fully tariff-free deal unlikely in the short term.
