Mark Carney asserted Canada’s readiness to engage “when someone else drops the gloves.”
Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has pledged to win the trade dispute with the U.S., asserting that retaliatory tariffs will stay in place until “Americans show us respect.”
Tensions increased in February after U.S. President Donald Trump declared tariffs of 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on imports from China.
The measures, initially postponed for a month, were implemented last Tuesday, with exceptions for automakers and items covered by the USMCA until April. In response, Ottawa imposed tariffs on $30 billion of American goods, with an additional $125 billion planned for next month.
In his inaugural address on Sunday, Carney – who secured the Liberal Party leadership with 85.9% of the vote – criticized Trump for “attacking Canadian families” with “unjustified tariffs,” accusing him of trying to “destroy the Canadian way of life.”
“There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy. Donald Trump. Donald Trump has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we earn a living,” he stated.
“The Canadian government is rightly retaliating with our own tariffs that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here in Canada. My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” he added.
Responding indirectly to Trump’s suggestion of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, Carney affirmed, “Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape, or form.”
“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves. So, Americans should make no mistake… In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win,” he said, while acknowledging that “this victory will not be easy.”
The Liberal Party held a leadership election following Justin Trudeau’s January resignation, which came after low approval ratings due to inflation, a housing crisis, and economic difficulties. Carney won against four other candidates, including former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, arguing he was best equipped to handle the situation.
Prior to entering politics, he advised Trudeau on economic policy and served as Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He is scheduled to be sworn in as prime minister soon.
Meanwhile, Trump confirmed that the tariffs would be implemented on April 2, calling the delay “a little bit of a break.” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on NBC’s Meet the Press that levies on steel and aluminum would begin Wednesday, followed by duties on Canadian dairy and lumber.
Lutnick stated that the restrictions would remain until Trump is “comfortable” with Canada and Mexico’s handling of fentanyl entering the U.S. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett described the measures as “a drug war, not a trade war.”
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