ISTANBUL 

US Vice President JD Vance and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Sunday in Rome for discussions focused on trade amid a dispute over tariffs.

The informal meeting at the US Ambassador's residence centered on "shared interests and goals," including "fair trade policies, and the two nations' continued lasting relationship," according to a statement by the White House.

The talks took place on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass at the Vatican, coming just weeks after Carney's high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump over tariffs.

US-Canada relations have deteriorated significantly during Trump's second term, marked by substantial trade barriers. Earlier this year, Washington imposed a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports, with a 10% levy on Canadian oil and energy exports.

Trump has also repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state, characterizing annexation as a solution to trade disputes and security concerns – a proposal that Canadian officials have firmly rejected as a threat to Canada’s sovereignty.