Canada must “fundamentally reimagine our economy” in the face of escalating tariffs imposed by U.S. Prime Minister Mark Carney told President Donald Trump on Thursday that the “old relationship” between the United States and Canada is “over.” Carney promised to bring retaliatory measures, reduce internal trade barriers and pivot Canada’s economy away from reliance on the U.S., after Trump announced new auto tariffs that will begin next week.
“Over the coming weeks, months and years, we must fundamentally reimagine our economy,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa after meeting with the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations.
“The old relationship we had with the United States, based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over.”
Carney wouldn’t say exactly what retaliatory measures the federal government will take in response to Trump’s latest round of tariffs. He said more will be announced on April 2, when the new auto tariffs and further “reciprocal” tariffs on all foreign trading partners are set to begin.Carney confirmed he has not yet spoken to Trump since becoming prime minister earlier this month, but plans to do so in “the next day or two” after he said Trump reached out Wednesday evening to schedule a call.
Carney stated, “I appreciate the chance to discuss how we can protect our workers and build our economies.” “I will make clear to the president that those interests are best served by cooperation and mutual respect, including of our sovereignty.”
Carney pressed pause on his federal election campaign as the Liberal Party leader Thursday to chair the cabinet committee meeting weighing Canada’s response to the fresh round of tariffs coming from Trump administration.As per the caretaker convention, Carney can act in his prime ministerial capacity during an election campaign as long as his actions are routine, non-controversial, agreed to by opposition parties or “urgent and in the public interest.” Carney reiterated his promise from last week after meeting with Canada’s premiers that a Liberal government, if re-elected, will ensure all federal limits on internal trade will be removed by July 1, and take steps to boost domestic investment.
“I reject any attempts to weaken Canada, to wear us down, to break us so that America can own us. That will never happen,” Carney said.
“Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight, to protect, and to build.”
Canada’s ‘old relationship’ with U.S. ‘is over’ amid Trump tariffs: Carney
