Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Saturday that his country will take retaliatory measures against the United States following the collapse of trade negotiations with the administration of President Donald Trump. Canada will implement measures that match "dollar for dollar" the new tariffs that came into effect at midnight, beginning 8 September.
In a televised address, Carney stated that Canadian retaliatory measures will focus on sectors including steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural machinery, pulp, paper and electronics. These measures will balance the 50 percent tariffs imposed by Washington on Canadian exports valued at approximately 20 billion United States dollars.
Carney indicated that Canada can affect the United States economy through its energy exports. He noted that Canada supplies 99 percent of United States imports of natural gas, 85 percent of electricity and 60 percent of crude oil. The Canadian premier characterized the new tariffs as "a miscalculation" and said they constitute "a new attack on Canada".
According to Carney, negotiations with Washington had advanced, but in the final hours before the deadline expired, the United States added conditions that he described as "unacceptable". The prime minister cited in particular demands concerning the automotive sector that would make "that over time, its production would not be economically viable" in Canada, in addition to "last-minute efforts to restrict Canada's ability to reach other trade agreements".
Carney emphasised that his government was not willing to compromise Canadian sovereignty or weaken the country's fundamental industries. He stated that his administration understood that the United States would transform its trade relationships, impose tariffs on its closest allies and use economic integration as a weapon.
