WASHINGTON — The gloves are off in the escalating trade dispute between Canada and the United States.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has described the conflict as a “war” on trade, while President Trump countered on Sunday, accusing Canada of attempting to gain “the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Carney stated, “We were attacked. You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked. That’s fine. We’ve got the reserves. We’ve got the resilience. We’ve got the plan. We’ve got the focus. We will respond.”
Carney criticized the Trump administration for pressuring Canada into accepting “a bad deal.”
On Saturday, the Trump administration implemented a significant 50% tariff on a variety of Canadian products, including beer, cheese, and electronics, further igniting trade tensions between the two neighboring nations.
The tariffs are expected to impact approximately $28 billion worth of imports and add to existing tariffs on aluminum, lumber, vehicles, and steel.
Trump, who has frequently pondered about Canada becoming the 51st state, criticized Ottawa for its longstanding trade practices with the US.
“Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!” Trump declared on Truth Social early Sunday.
Carney, pledging to retaliate, attributed the breakdown of trade talks with the US to last-minute demands from Washington and accused Trump of attempting to undermine Canada’s sovereignty.
“It’s a power play. And it becomes a question of sovereignty,” Carney said. “We’re a proud independent country. We’ve got the right values. We’ll make our decisions about who we want to trade with and how, and including on how we work with the United States and other partners.”
Carney also claimed that Trump demanded Canada alter its French language, Quebec culture, and Canadian identity as a condition for lifting tariffs.
“This is no longer about a trade deal — it is about a takeover of Canada’s sovereignty and identity,” he added.
The core issue is whether language and cultural barriers in Quebec hinder US trade.
The Canadian PM, who has a background as a central banker, announced that retaliatory tariffs on the US will start on Sept. 8, pledging to match the US “dollar for dollar.”
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that Washington will respond to any Canadian trade retaliation.
“For decades, Canada has enjoyed the most favorable access to the U.S. market of any country. And from the beginning of President Trump’s trade program, Canada has continued to enjoy the best treatment in the world,” Greer said in a Friday statement.
The trade conflict with Canada could impact Senate races in Michigan and Maine, states with significant trade links to Canada.
Trump is utilizing Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to enforce these duties on Canada. This authority allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 50% on imports from countries that discriminate against American commerce.
