Mark Carney has spoken out about the trade war with Trump
Canada’s prime minister has said there is just one way he will permit a trade partnership with Donald Trump.
Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has wasted no time addressing the escalating trade tensions with the United States following his Liberal Party’s victory in the snap election.
In a candid interview with the BBC, Carney acknowledged the importance of an “economic and security partnership” with the US but made it clear that any future cooperation would need to be on Canada’s terms, not America’s. The former Governor of the Bank of Canada emphasized that the relationship between the two countries must be built on mutual respect, especially given the ongoing provocations from former President Donald Trump, who has taunted Canada with the idea of it becoming the US’ “51st state.” Trump has also mocked both Carney and his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, referring to them as “governors” — a title reserved for leaders of US states — and suggested he might reconsider his harsh tariffs if Canada were to join the Union.
In a bold post-election interview, Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering stance on its sovereignty, emphatically stating that joining the United States is “never, ever going to happen.” He went on to dismiss any future possibilities, saying, “Frankly, I don’t think it’s ever going to happen with any other country… whether it’s Panama, Greenland, or elsewhere.”
The heated trade dispute between the two nations began shortly after Carney stepped in as interim Prime Minister in January. Tensions flared when former President Donald Trump imposed substantial tariffs on a range of Canadian products, including automobiles, steel, and aluminum. Under the terms of the USMCA trade deal signed in 2020, some goods were exempted, but the tariff measures still left a significant mark.
In response, Canada swiftly retaliated with tariffs worth C$60 billion ($42 billion) on American goods, escalating the conflict. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford even threatened to cut off power to 1.5 million residents and businesses across New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, intensifying the standoff.
When asked if he would visit Trump, Carney was firm: “I’ve been to Washington, I’ve been in the White House… so I’m not going as a tourist. I’ll go when there’s a serious discussion to be had.”
In his latest remarks, Prime Minister Mark Carney drew a sharp distinction between what former President Trump “wants” and what he “expects.” Carney made it clear that, despite Trump’s territorial ambitions, “that’s never ever going to happen, with respect to Canada.”
The Prime Minister then shifted the focus to Canada’s vital role on the global stage, asserting, “The question is when are we ready to have that discussion, remembering that we are the biggest client for more than 40 states. We supply them with vital energy… so we deserve respect, we expect respect, and I’m sure we’ll get it in due course again.”
Looking to the future, Carney expressed optimism about forging a “win-win” partnership, particularly through stronger trade ties with the European Union and the United Kingdom— and, if Trump is willing, the United States as well. “We could expand the level of integration between our countries, like-minded countries,” he said. “Think about defense partnerships; those conversations have just begun, so there’s a lot we can do.”
Carney’s election victory also comes at a time when Canadian voters are said to have kept the US tariffs issue in mind as they cast their ballots, hopeful that their new leader would take decisive action to address the growing trade crisis.
