Carney Declares Trade 'War' on U.S. After Talks Collapse and New Tariffs Hit
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 30
Carney Declares Trade 'War' on U.S. After Talks Collapse and New Tariffs Hit
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 30
Summary
Mark Carney cast Canada as under attack after trade talks with Washington collapsed, saying Ottawa would reject U.S. terms and accept confrontation rather than compromise.
New tariffs on both sides triggered the rupture, with Carney framing the dispute less as a narrow trade fight than as a test of Canadian sovereignty against U.S. pressure.
Trump escalated tensions again on Thursday by ordering the federal government to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” reinforcing Ottawa’s portrayal of a vindictive negotiating partner.
Economists warn retaliation will hurt Canada more than the U.S., but polling still shows Carney as the leader Canadians trust most to navigate the economic fallout.
That support has helped Carney push a wartime-footing agenda — dropping some Trudeau-era policies, fast-tracking projects and adding tens of billions in defence spending.