VnExpress2 hours agoPolitics1 min read

Canadian Prime Minister Carney called on the US to be less stubborn in trade negotiations

Quick Look

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that the US needs to be less tough and serious in trade negotiations to avoid imposing agreements that are harmful to Canadian industry and culture, after negotiations collapsed and Trump imposed a 50% tax on Canadian goods worth 20 billion USD.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Last month's U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed after the two sides failed to reach an agreement, resulting in President Trump imposing 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods worth about $20 billion.

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Prime Minister Carney said that the Trump administration needs to be serious and "less tough" if it wants to resolve the trade dispute.

"When Americans stop posting funny photos or videos, stop being sarcastic, less tough and start seriously negotiating, we are ready to discuss," Prime Minister Mark Carney said on September 1. "That's not constructive at all, but that's their democracy."

Mr. Carney said that the US approach in negotiations would turn Canadian industries into essentially subsidiaries of US businesses or force them to endure terms that would cause them to "gradually atrophy and then be completely eliminated right in Canada".

"Of course, we will not accept such terms," he emphasized.

Prime Minister Carney said the US is seeking a deal that "disadvantages" Canada in key industries, while promoting changes that affect the French language and the preservation of the country's culture. He affirmed that just one of the above issues is enough to block the agreement between the two countries.

He accused Washington of also wanting to limit Canada's future trade agreements. "Canada is a sovereign country. We will sign free trade agreements with any country we want," the Prime Minister declared.

Prime Minister Carney's statement was made in response to a new round of attacks from Washington since trade negotiations collapsed on August 21. President Donald Trump changed the name of Lake Ontario to "American lake" and mocked Canada on social networks, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Canada could not "take an eye for an eye" with an economy 13 times larger than theirs.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on social networks on August 31 a photo of two female cadets at a training center in British Columbia province with the comment "this is the truth", to mock the strength of the Canadian military.

Prime Minister Carney described this article as "unworthy" of the poster's position. The Pentagon reserves its position, declaring "the post on X speaks for itself".

The White House even posted an AI-generated video showing Canada geese with President Trump's hair marching with guns.

US-Canada trade negotiations broke down last month after the two sides could not agree on a deal. President Trump then immediately imposed a 50% tax on about 20 billion USD worth of Canadian goods. Retaliatory tariffs from Canada on nearly $20 billion worth of US goods are expected to take effect on September 8.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on nearly $20 billion worth of US goods effective September 8, as announced.
Very likely · Within days
U.S.-Canada trade talks will continue in the coming weeks with no sign of an early agreement.
Likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

What kind of retaliatory tariffs will Canada impose on American goods?
When will Canada's actual tax retaliation take effect?
Are there any negotiating efforts going on after the meeting between the two sides?
Which Canadian industries will be most affected by the new U.S. tax?