Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Ottawa remains prepared to strike a "fair” trade agreement with Washington, revealing he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump in recent days as economic tensions between the neighbors intensify.

The once ironclad trading partnership between the North American neighbors has sustained unprecedented blows since Trump returned to office last year.

Carney cut off trade talks last month, saying the U.S. offer was unacceptable, triggering angry responses from Trump, including punishing new tariffs and prompting Canadian retaliation.

But Carney said the pair remain in touch and that "Canada is always ready to strike a fair deal."

"We believe there is a mutually beneficial deal for Canada and the United States," the prime minister told reporters in the western city of Calgary, where he was hosting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I speak regularly to the president, President Trump. I've spoken to him in recent days," Carney said.

Since the talks broke down last month, Trump has resumed taunting Canada and mocking its leadership, posting a generated image on social media of him towering over Carney and calling him "governor," with both dressed in hockey gear.

Carney has said he has no interest in escalating the conflict, but insists he will not agree to anything that doesn't serve Canada's economic interests.