The Canadian PM is navigating his role as a diplomat and statesman—not a politician on the campaign trail, writes David Moscrop.

A meeting between the leaders of Canada and the United States is not usually considered a high-stakes showdown.

After their Oval Office encounter under the glare of the TV lights, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his U.S. counterpart retreated to the Roosevelt Room for a working lunch on Tuesday. Much of the mealtime chatter was about foreign policy issues,