Canadian PM Carney: US Must Be 'Serious' for Trade Talks

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on September 2 criticized the United States for its 'superficial' approach to the ongoing trade dispute between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney said negotiations can only progress when Washington is truly serious.

'When Americans stop making memes, stop bad-mouthing, and stop trying to look tough, and start being serious in discussions, we can talk,' Carney said. 'It's not constructive, but that's their democracy.'

The Liberal leader's statement comes amid renewed tensions between the US and Canada, two nations with historically close ties. Since returning to power in 2025, President Donald Trump has imposed a series of tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting retaliatory measures.

The latest round of tariffs was applied on August 22 after talks between the two sides collapsed. The US imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response, Canada announced it would impose equivalent tariffs on US goods starting September 8.

Following the failed talks, Carney blamed Washington's last-minute demands. He accused the Trump administration of seeking to limit Canada's ability to sign trade agreements with other countries, as well as demanding changes to Canada's laws protecting French language and culture. He also said Trump's team attempted to push an asymmetric deal that would harm Canadian industries.

'Canada is a sovereign country. We will sign free trade agreements with countries we want to,' Carney told reporters on September 2. 'Of course, we will not accept those terms.'

The trade war has fueled a wave of nationalism in Canada. A June survey by research firm Abacus Data found that Canadians' national pride increased by 12 points over two years, reaching 77% this year.

Carney faces pressure not to concede to US demands. In addition to high tariffs, the Trump administration has pressured Canada to relinquish sovereignty and become America's '51st state.' Trump has also taken symbolic actions to assert US power. On August 27, the US president signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as 'Lake America.'

'Canada is one of the worst countries in the world to deal with,' Trump said in a recent radio interview. Other senior Trump administration officials have also criticized Canada.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that Canada's economy is not strong enough to handle a trade war with the US and blamed Carney for escalating the situation. 'I don't think you can go tit-for-tat with someone 13 times your size,' Bessent said on September 1. He also criticized Carney: 'He came to power with an anti-US, anti-Trump agenda. He's down 20 points in the polls. Then he started this. It's unfortunate that he's not doing what's best for the Canadian people.'

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a photo of two female Canadian military cadets on social media, seemingly mocking the country's armed forces. Hegseth, a former TV host, has frequently criticized efforts to include women, LGBTQ individuals, and minorities in the military as a 'fake-woke' distraction from the core mission of the US military.

When reporters asked Carney about these messages, he responded that the comments are 'demeaning' to the position of US officials. 'Our plan has always been to stand up for Canada, first and foremost, at home,' Carney said.