As the newly elected leader of the Liberal Party, Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, is gearing up to take the reins as Canada’s next Prime Minister, succeeding Justin Trudeau. In a recent speech, Carney leveled sharp criticism at US President Donald Trump, stating that he is “attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses.” This strong statement comes on the heels of Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian imports, which Carney vehemently opposes.
According to a report by Xinhua News, Carney’s comments were made during a post-election speech, in which he denounced Trump’s “unfair trade practices” and the repeated calls for Canadian territorial annexation. The practice of imposing tariffs has been a point of contention between the two nations, with Carney asserting that “we cannot let him succeed” and vowing to maintain tariffs on US imports “until Americans show us respect.” This tit-for-tat approach has been escalating, with Trump initially signing an executive order on February 1 to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% on Canadian energy products. Although he later announced a delay in enforcing these measures, they ultimately went into effect on March 4.
In response, the Canadian government retaliated with a preliminary tariff of CAD 30 billion (approximately USD 21 billion) on US goods, with a promise to impose an additional CAD 125 billion (around USD 87 billion) in 21 days. Carney emphasized that Canada did not seek this confrontation but remains ready to defend itself if challenged, underscoring the country’s commitment to its retaliation plan. As he aptly put it, “America must not fail to understand… in trade, just like in hockey, Canada will be the winner.”
Furthermore, Carney addressed Trump’s recurring remarks about making Canada the 51st US state, stating that “Canada will not be part of America in any form… Americans want our resources, our water, our land, and our country… This is a dark time, a dark chapter from a country we can no longer trust.” This sentiment was echoed by Trudeau, who warned during his farewell speech to the Liberal Party on Sunday that Canada faces “existential challenges” and an “economic crisis” posed by the US. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Carney will navigate these complex trade relations and assert Canada’s position on the world stage.