- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the Trump administration to stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough, as he pushed back against a fresh wave of attacks from Washington.
- Carney accused the United States of pursuing terms that could leave Canadian industries wiped out or turned into subsidiaries of American companies.
- The trade talks collapsed on August 21, leading to escalating tensions between the two nations.
- In response to the trade conflict, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods.
- Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America on U.S. maps, further straining relations.
- Canada's counter-tariffs on nearly $28 billion in U.S. goods are scheduled to take effect on September 8.
- Carney met with labour groups in Ottawa to discuss the challenges posed by the trade situation.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mocked the Canadian military online, which Carney called beneath their office.
- The Liberals won three special elections, including a decisive victory in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, which bolstered Carney's position amid the trade conflict.
- Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the G20 finance ministers' meetings in North Carolina, marking the first face-to-face meeting since the trade talks collapsed.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on the Trump administration to cease its social media provocations and focus on serious trade negotiations, as tensions between the U.S. and Canada escalate. Carney stated, “When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions.”1
The prime minister accused the U.S. of pushing for terms that would effectively reduce Canadian industries to subsidiaries of American companies or lead to their winding down in Canada. He emphasized, “Of course, we’re not going to accept those terms.” Carney's comments come in the wake of a barrage of attacks from Washington since trade talks collapsed on August 21, with President Trump and his cabinet members mocking Canada on social media.23
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded to Carney's remarks, stating that the prime minister had received a “verbal beatdown” from him and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also mocked the Canadian military online. Carney described Hegseth's post as “beneath their office.”810
Carney highlighted that the U.S. sought an “uncompetitive” deal for key industries, including autos, and aimed to limit Canada’s ability to engage in future trade agreements. He asserted, “Canada is a sovereign state. We will strike free trade deals with the countries we wish to strike free trade deals.” The prime minister expressed willingness to return to negotiations when the U.S. is ready for serious discussions.
The escalating trade tensions have raised concerns among Canadian labor groups, who support the government's decision to walk away from unfavorable terms.
“Canada's counter-tariffs on nearly $28 billion in U.S. goods take effect Sept. 8, with duties from 15% to 50%. Carney's Liberals won three special elections, including a decisive win in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, boosting his position as he confronts Trump over sovereignty.”
theglobeandmail.com
