Canada’s incoming PM Mark Carney has expressed a firm stance over the ongoing trade war with the United States, warning that retaliatory tariffs will remain in place until the “US shows some respect.”
The tensions escalated in February when Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, along with 10 per cent on Chinese imports, which may be doubled in April.
The measures took effect last Tuesday, with exemptions granted to automakers and goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) until April.
Ottawa responded by imposing tariffs on $30 billion worth of American products, with an additional $125 billion in duties set for next month.
Carney has been elected as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party with 85.9 per cent of the vote, positioning him to be the next prime minister of Canada.
In his inaugural speech on Sunday, he criticised Trump for imposing “unjustified tariffs” that he said were “attacking Canadian families” and accused him of attempting to “undermine the Canadian way of life.”
“There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy. Donald Trump. Donald Trump has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, and on how we earn a living,” he said.
“The Canadian government is rightly retaliating with our tariffs that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here in Canada. My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” he added.
Indirectly addressing Trump’s suggestion that his country should become the 51st US state, Carney said, “Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape, or form.”
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“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves. So, Americans should make no mistake… In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win,” he said, while cautioning that “this victory will not be easy.”
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