Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
CPAC
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing backlash following his announcement to eliminate most retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, a move critics argue contradicts his earlier hardline stance against U.S. trade policies.
The decision comes amid ongoing trade tensions, with U.S. President Donald Trump imposing 35% tariffs on non-CUSMA-compliant Canadian goods, citing issues like fentanyl trafficking.
During a press conference in Ottawa, Carney defended the pivot, stating, “We’ve always said we will apply tariffs where they have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact in Canada. In some cases, that will be to remove tariffs.”
He emphasized a pragmatic approach, saying, “You drop the gloves in the first period — when you’re late in the game, dropping the gloves and taking the extra penalty might not be the best thing to do.”
Carney argued that maintaining tariff-free access for 85% of Canadian exports under CUSMA remains a priority, and removing retaliatory tariffs could facilitate ongoing negotiations.
Critics, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, slammed Carney for failing to deliver on campaign promises to secure a tariff-free trade deal. Despite the criticism, Carney insisted, “We’re standing up for Canada,” while focusing on diversifying trade to reduce reliance on the U.S. market.