‘We have to hit back’; Premier, Prime Minister react to escalating Canada-U.S. trade tensions

Trump took to social media Monday (Aug. 24) morning and claimed that Canada has been “ripping off the United States of America for years.” The U.S. president also threatened further tariffs on Canadian steel and auto exports effective Jan. 1, 2027.

He also made a subsequent post that took aim at Canadian energy flowing through the United States and warned of “consequences” if Canadian officials didn’t “fall in line.

“Remember, much of the Electricity, Oil, and Gas that Canada gets is transported through the U.S.A. Someone should get these clowns to ‘fall in line’ or, the consequences for Canada will be far WORSE!” Trump posted.

Canada has already announced retaliatory dollar-for-dollar tariffs on things like U.S. steel, dairy, and electronics, which will take effect on Sept. 8. Details about what goods Canada will tariff are not yet available, but Carney has already said his government will introduce measures to support Canadian workers and businesses in the coming days.

“The goal of our trade negotiations with the United States has always been to get the best deal for Canadians, never a deal at any price or on any time frame,” Carney said.

“Hitting your number one customer with a 50 per cent tariff and expecting that we wouldn’t do the same is bizarre,” added B.C. Premier David Eby, who welcomed the move, even though he admitted the province will be disproportionately affected by the new American tariffs.

“We will never be the 51st state,” Eby added. “The idea that the president can impose on Canada obligations about who we trade with and who we can’t trade with, and then simultaneously hit us with massive tariffs and give us poor access to the American market…it makes no sense.”

The prime minister noted Canada will return to the negotiating table when the U.S. has “the right attitude” toward Canadian industries. In the meantime, the Canadian government will continue its work to lessen its dependence on the United States as a trading partner.

“The last year alone, Canada has signed more than 20 trade and security deals across five continents,” Carney said, noting Canada is now “the best connected economy in the world.”

“We completed our most recent trade deal with the United Arab Emirates in a record 47 days.”

Added Eby, “we have to hit back, and I think its unfortunate because we’ve been friends for so many years, he said. “This relationship can be destroyed very quickly and efficiently and the president is working on that.”

by Victor Kaisar

‘We have to hit back’; Premier, Prime Minister react to escalating Canada-U.S. trade tensions

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