Canada PM Says Traditional Ties With U.S. Over Amid Trade Dispute
OTTAWA, March 28 – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday that the country’s longstanding relationship with the United States, built on economic and security cooperation, is “over” amid an escalating trade war. However, he indicated that talks with U.S. President Donald Trump could take place soon to address the ongoing tariff dispute.
“The old relationship we had with the U.S., built on economic and security cooperation, is over. We don’t know what the U.S. will do next, but as Canadians, we have control over our future,” Carney said following an emergency meeting with a cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations.
Since taking office on March 14, Carney has not yet spoken with Trump. While he expects a conversation in the “next day or two,” he downplayed expectations that ties between the two countries would improve, emphasizing that the U.S. can no longer be seen as a reliable partner.
“We may restore some trust through serious negotiations, but there’s no going back. Every future government will have a fundamentally different relationship with the United States,” Carney said.
In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada has imposed duties on $41.9 billion worth of U.S. imports, including steel and aluminum. Carney’s government has also pledged additional tariffs on approximately $66 billion worth of American imports in retaliation for Trump’s latest 25% tariffs on automobiles with foreign-made parts.
Carney said Canada would carefully assess U.S. trade policies before detailing further countermeasures. “We won’t back down. We will respond strongly. Everything is on the table to protect our workers and our country,” he said.
Upcoming Elections and Political Implications
With a snap election set for April 28, Carney is seeking a stronger mandate to counter Trump’s policies. The U.S. president has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the “51st U.S. state,” a notion that has fueled tensions between the two nations. Polls indicate a tight race between Carney’s Liberal Party and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party, with Liberal support having strengthened since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
