Investing.com -- Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed readiness to discuss economic and security ties with the United States, but only when the Trump administration stops referring to Canada as the 51st state. Carney voiced his concerns about the disrespectful comments at a press conference in London, following a day of meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, King Charles III, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in two different countries.
The Canadian Prime Minister stated that the country is seeking a comprehensive discussion and negotiation about their overall commercial and security relationship with the United States. He indicated Canada’s willingness to engage in these talks once the U.S. is ready for such a conversation.
However, Carney also acknowledged the limitations Canada faces in responding to the new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump due to the disparity in size between the two economies. He noted that Canada’s economy is only a tenth the size of the United States, which constrains its ability to match tariffs dollar for dollar.
Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister last Friday, pointed out that Canada’s reaction will depend on the tariffs Trump plans to implement on April 2. The U.S. President has repeatedly pledged to introduce reciprocal tariffs on countries that already have tariffs on U.S. goods, as well as additional levies on sectors like autos, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors.
Carney suggested that it would be challenging for Canada to exceed the remaining C$95 billion on their list of tariffs. He explained that these items were selected because they would have a significant impact on the United States while causing limited impact in Canada.
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