Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called on the U.S. administration to stop social media taunts and approach bilateral trade negotiations with serious intent, warning that terms sought by Washington threatened to wipe out entire Canadian industries.
Speaking on Tuesday following a fresh wave of rhetoric from American officials, Carney pushed back against the tactics used by Washington since cross-border trade talks broke down on Aug. 21.
“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” Carney said. “It’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy.”
The breakdown in talks came after Washington proposed terms that Carney said would turn Canadian businesses into subsidiaries of American companies or force them to close down. He stated that the U.S. sought an uncompetitive structure for critical sectors like manufacturing and automotive, while also demanding changes to Canada’s cultural and French-language protections.
Carney noted that Washington attempted to restrict Ottawa’s ability to negotiate independent international agreements. He rejected those conditions, asserting Canada’s right to manage its own foreign policy.
“Canada is a sovereign state,” Carney said. “We will strike free trade deals with the countries we wish to strike free trade deals.”
He added that mutually beneficial progress had been achieved before the negotiations fell apart.
The trade dispute has coincided with repeated public jabs from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently spoken about absorbing Canada as the 51st American state and recently suggested renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
Other U.S. officials have joined the criticism. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that Canada could not match a nation with an economy 13 times its size in a trade battle. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a photo online featuring two female Canadian military cadets with the caption “this is real.”
Carney described the post as “beneath their office.” The Pentagon defended the message on Tuesday, stating, “The X post speaks for itself.”
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The political standoff follows the collapse of talks and the subsequent imposition of 50% tariffs by the U.S. on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response, Canada plans to enact retaliatory tariffs on nearly $20 billion of U.S. goods starting Sept. 8, with rates set between 15% and 50%.
Political analysts note that the rhetoric from Washington carries significant weight in regions concerned about cultural preservation. Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, highlighted the specific stakes involved.
“Quebecers have the most to lose in an apocalyptic scenario where the U.S. absorbs Canada, and the status of the French language disappears,” Wiseman said.
Carney’s political standing at home received a boost on Monday as the Liberal Party won three special elections. The victories included a strong result in the Quebec riding of Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, where the Conservatives finished third. The election results bring the governing Liberals to 173 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons, strengthening Carney’s platform as he resists U.S. pressure.
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