Carney Dangles Keystone XL Comeback in Trump Tariff Talks: Pipeline Revived as Bargaining Chip

Carney Dangles Keystone XL Comeback in Trump Tariff Talks: Pipeline Revived as Bargaining Chip

t’s been quite some time since we covered the Keystone XL Pipeline, a proposed extension of the existing Keystone Pipeline System designed to transport crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska.

The project’s goal was to expand the pipeline system’s capacity by allowing the transport of up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day over a distance of approximately 1,210 miles. The aim was to provide a more direct route for Canadian oil, and provisions were included for adding American-produced oil from the Bakken formation in Montana and North Dakota.

The last time we reported on this Keystone XL, President Donald Trump was promising to revive the project “on day one”.

Well, this week, there has been some intriguing movement on that front.  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney raised the prospect of reviving the Keystone XL pipeline project during his recent White House visit with Trump.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney raised the prospect of reviving the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Alberta to the United States during his Tuesday meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the discussions and a CBC News report on Wednesday.

Carney, who is under increasing pressure in Canada to address painful U.S. tariffs on steel, autos and other goods, asked Trump if he would be interested if the Keystone project were to be revived and had Canadian support, the source said.

The source emphasized discussions are at a very early phase, and declined to say whether the Canadian government believes there is a company willing to build the pipeline. Trump was receptive, and the idea is something negotiators will look at in follow-up discussions, the source said.

Carney seems to have taken a page from the Trump playbook for governing success. As Trump signed an executive order “Unleashing American Energy“, Canada’s top leader is “Unleashing Canadian Energy“.

Carney mentioned building major projects and “unleashing Canadian energy” in a live video call with business leaders in Toronto on Wednesday.

Biden canceled Keystone XL’s border crossing permit in 2021 over longstanding concerns that burning oil sands crude could make climate change worse and harder to reverse.

A spokesperson for South Bow Corp., the oil pipeline operator that owns the existing Keystone pipeline system, said they are not privy to the ongoing discussions between the Canadian and U.S. governments.

“South Bow is supportive of efforts to find solutions that increase the transportation of Canadian crude oil. We will continue to explore opportunities that leverage our existing corridor with our customers and others in the industry,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Reports indicate Trump is interested, and Alberta’s provincial officials are excited about the possibility.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said he has long “liked the Keystone XL pipeline,” and that it could be a bargaining chip with the Trump administration. But he cast doubt on focusing on a pipeline through the United States.

“What we’ve learned is building more export capacity to the U.S., which has proven to be a difficult partner under this administration, is not as important as building pipeline capacity that gets us to [other] export markets,” said Nenshi.

In a statement, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the party was in support of infrastructure like the Keystone XL pipeline.

“We are glad to hear President Trump and his administration express renewed interest in the Keystone XL pipeline. One of the first executive orders he signed in 2017 was the approval of this pipeline,” the statement reads.

“In Canada, Keystone XL was approved under a Conservative government in 2010. Prime Minister Carney should know that he will have the Official Opposition behind him if he does the right thing and gets this crucial project moving.”

Sadly, it appears Carney began changing his tune slightly upon his return to the land of MAID and organ harvesting.

Reporter: “What about the Keystone XL pipeline?”
Mark Carney: “Uh… that wasn’t me.” 🤡

His own government ADMITS they’ve been talking to Trump about it
Now he’s sprinting away like it’s radioactive.

I guess liberal supporters are getting tired of the FLIP-FLOPS pic.twitter.com/Yg4Kzzj8Ux

— Marc Nixon (@MarcNixon24) October 10, 2025

We will soon see if this is negotiating tactic and whether it is effective with the Trump.

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