Canadian Prime Minister: Reducing economic ties with the United States will come at a price
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that reducing economic ties with the United States would come at a cost, but the long-term benefits are clear, as new tariffs on American products took effect. As the t
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that reducing economic ties with the United States would come at a cost, but the long-term benefits are clear, as new tariffs on American products took effect.
As the trade war escalates between the two neighboring North American countries, new Canadian tariffs went into effect on $27.6 billion (US$20 billion) worth of US imports, including steel and aluminum products, as well as dairy items such as cheese.
Carney added, “We have everything we need to transition and thrive. It will come at a cost. Every action has a cost, but it is not comparable to the cost of staying put.”
The move comes after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian products of similar value, citing what Washington described as “discriminatory treatment” against the US alcohol, automotive, and dairy sectors.
In a notable recent US statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that Carney should “stop campaigning and start governing,” adding that the United States did not understand why Canada had withdrawn from negotiations.
On Monday, Trump threatened to try to block sales by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier unless the Quebec-based company moved its manufacturing operations to the United States.
While US tariffs pose a limited negative risk to the Canadian economy as a whole, analysts note they are having a more severe impact on Canada’s manufacturing sector in the central part of the country.
In a video statement on Tuesday, Carney continued, “I do not believe in escalating the conflict. This is not constructive. But the tariffs we are imposing are necessary to protect our workers, our businesses, and our communities.”
Negotiations between the two sides collapsed on August 21, following days of meetings in Washington.
Although Carney enjoys public support in Canada, his country remains dependent on Washington, as approximately 60 percent of Canada’s imports come from the United States, while about 70 percent of its products are exported to the US market.
