Carney says Canada ready to respond if Trump tariffs hit

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Canada will do “whatever it takes to defend and support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families” in the ongoing trade war with the United States. Speaking to Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial premiers at a Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Carney called Trump’s Monday threat of 50% tariffs on roughly C$20 billion of Canadian goods “unwarranted.” Asked later about retaliation if no deal is reached before the August 19 deadline, Carney told reporters “everything is on the table depending on the outcome of the negotiations.”

He further stated that a preemptive response would be futile at this point and mentioned that diversification of trade relations away from the U.S., as well as strengthening of vulnerable industries, would constitute practical steps in this regard.

Carney spoke directly with Trump on Tuesday morning, per Global News, and the two leaders agreed to intensify trade negotiations. That gives negotiators about 27 days. What Trump is targeting and what he is sparing The United States announced the new duties on Monday, citing what it called “unequal treatment” of American cars, dairy, and alcohol by Canada.

Everyday consumer goods sit in the crosshairs, including wine and hockey sticks, alongside industrial products such as cement, per BBC News. Several major exports were spared. Energy, potash, critical minerals, and fish products are not targeted here, thereby limiting the damage to the biggest natural resource industries in Canada and giving reasons why Alberta and Saskatchewan are less aggressive about retaliation.

Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative, on Wednesday defended the new tariff duties to Congress by saying that they are an integral part of an effort to protect American workers and reduce the trade deficit which, according to him, is a “national emergency.” Greer was hoping to conclude interim agreements with Canada and Mexico before the