Canada’s Carney declares 'end of US partnership' amid tariff clash
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announces the end of Canada’s 40-year relationship with the US, citing aggressive tariffs and territorial ambitions by the Trump administration.
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US and Canadian flags are displayed before an event with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the US Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared on Friday that the decades-long partnership between Canada and the United States has come to an end, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations.
"We recognize that the relationship that Canada had with the United States for more than 40 years has been based on deepening integration, and it is over. That is a tragedy, but it is also a reality," Carney told reporters.
Trump’s tariffs spark diplomatic breakdown
Carney accused the current US administration of pursuing aggressive economic policies aimed at undermining Canadian sovereignty. "President [Donald] Trump is trying to break us, so that America can own us. That will never happen. Canada is not America and will never be part of America," he said.
He further alleged that Washington is attempting to absorb Canadian land and resources through new tariffs and economic pressure.
Trump has previously stated that Canada could become the 51st US state, a notion that has drawn criticism from Canadian officials.
Mark Carney vows to 'stand up to Trump'
On Thursday, Carney repeatedly redirected his conversation with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre during Thursday’s federal election debate toward what he described as the country’s most serious danger: US President Donald Trump.
At the debate, Poilievre claimed the Liberals handed “Donald Trump and the US a near monopoly over our energy” by blocking pipeline development.
The longtime Conservative MP also worked to link Carney to Trudeau’s unpopular legacy. “The question you have to ask is, after a decade of Liberal promises, can you afford food? Is your housing more affordable than it used to be?” he asked. “How can we possibly believe that you [Carney] are any different than the previous 10 years of Liberal government?” he added, calling Carney “Justin Trudeau’s economic adviser.
Carney pushed back, telling Poilievre, “I know you want to be running against Justin Trudeau. Justin Trudeau isn’t here.” He kept his focus on Trump throughout the night, insisting, “The biggest risk we have to this economy is Donald Trump.”
Calling out the US president’s ambitions, he warned, “He is trying to break us so he can own us," concluding, “We’re all going to stand up against Donald Trump. I’m ready.”
Trade tensions persist despite USMCA framework
Tensions escalated in March when the Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods, including steel, aluminum, automobiles, and other items not covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
In response, Canada introduced its own 25% tariffs on US-made products.
Although the US later introduced a 10% base tariff rate for most trading partners, excluding China, for a 90-day period, Canada and Mexico were excluded from the exemption and continue to face a 25% tariff on non-USMCA-compliant goods.
Read more: Canada launches trade infrastructure fund amid rising tensions with US
