Mark Carney Presents Ultimatum to Donald Trump on Canada’s Behalf

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada has stated that the nation will engage in negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his tariff proposals once Canada receives the “respect” it deserves as a sovereign entity.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email for a response.

Significance

Trump’s threats to implement substantial import tariffs have raised the risk of a significant diplomatic fallout with Canada, the United States’ northern neighbor. His comments suggesting Canada could potentially become the U.S.’s 51st state have further escalated tensions.

The proposed tariffs have sparked a trade conflict between the two nations, amplifying political and ideological rifts and raising concerns about the future dynamics of their long-standing partnership.

Key Information

Carney, who recently succeeded Justin Trudeau as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, held a virtual meeting with the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations on Thursday.

According to Carney’s office, discussions centered on Trump’s planned tariffs, which are anticipated to target Canada starting April 2.

This latest wave of tariff increases is set to build on the hikes Trump has already proposed against Canada, Mexico, China, and others.

In a Wednesday update on X, formerly Twitter, Carney expressed Canada’s readiness to discuss the “unjust tariffs” proposed by Trump. He also reiterated his rejection of the notion that Canada could become the U.S.’s 51st state.

During an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Tuesday, Trump labeled Canada as one of the “nastiest” countries to negotiate with and reiterated his claim that it might eventually become the 51st state to circumvent tariffs and avoid U.S. subsidies.

When Ingraham questioned why he was adopting a “tougher” stance against Canada compared to other U.S. adversaries, Trump responded, “Only because it’s meant to be our 51st state.”

Earlier this month, Trump postponed his much-anticipated 25 percent tariffs on various goods from Mexico and Canada until April 2. This one-month exemption applies to items covered under the USMCA free trade agreement, which Trump negotiated during his first term.

Approximately 62 percent of imports from Canada remain subject to tariffs due to non-compliance with USMCA, according to a White House official who spoke to the Associated Press.

Economists are concerned that this new round of tariffs could impact a wide range of countries trading with the U.S. Existing tariff threats from Trump have already raised alarms about potential negative consequences for the U.S. economy.

In a Thursday post on Truth Social, Trump referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day” for America.

On March 11, Trump even hinted at increasing his 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50 percent, although he retracted this plan shortly thereafter.

This threat was a reaction to Ontario’s government’s announcement of a 25 percent electricity surcharge for Michigan, Minnesota, and New York in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Canada.

Last week, Canada declared it would impose tariffs on $21 billion worth of American goods entering its borders in response to Trump’s original 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum effective March 12.

Before exiting office, Trudeau indicated that Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on $155 billion worth of American products would remain in force even if Trump suspended many tariffs against Canada.

Public Reactions

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney tweeted: “My meeting with the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations was aimed at maintaining Canada’s economic strength against unjust tariffs. We’re prepared to engage in comprehensive negotiations with the U.S.—once Canada is respected as a sovereign nation.”

U.S. President Donald Trump remarked to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham: “I negotiate with every country, whether directly or indirectly. One of the most difficult countries to deal with is Canada… Trudeau—I refer to him as Governor Trudeau—his team was unpleasant and not truthful. They never told the truth.”

Adam Chapnick, a defense studies professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, previously told Newsweek: “Canada and its allies need to take the president’s threats seriously to prevent them from becoming normalized among his highly loyal supporters. However, the chances of Washington committing significant resources to annex Canada are virtually nonexistent. I believe the president will continue to express a desire to take over Canada as it provokes a reaction from Canadians, and he enjoys the attention and the opportunity to showcase power, even if just through improbable threats.”

Joseph Politano, an economic policy analyst at Apricitas Economics, shared with The Washington Post: “The last couple of months have already harmed American businesses and consumers, but the April 2 deadline could escalate the situation significantly. While we don’t know precisely what will happen, the current indications suggest it might effectively mean new tariffs on all U.S. imports.”

Looking Ahead

Goods from Canada and Mexico complying with USMCA standards are expected to be exempt from Trump’s 25 percent tariffs until April 2.

The White House has yet to reveal the full extent of the reciprocal tariffs Trump plans to implement on that date.