Trump’s new tariffs against Canada a ‘miscalculation,’ Carney says

A fresh round of tariffs and trade restrictions by U.S. President Donald Trump are a “miscalculation” in his trade war against Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday.

Canada made the “right decision” to walk away from trade negotiations with the United States last month, Carney told the Liberal caucus.

“It wasn’t tough to draw the red lines. We could not accept what they had offered, and we would not give what they had asked. When the U.S. is ready to return to the bargaining table, we will come there to strike a deal in good faith,” said Carney, who spoke to his caucus after he return from addressing the European Parliament in France earlier this week.

The United States has imposed “new unjustified tariffs” which would “hurt workers, companies and communities” in Canada, he added.

“They’re a miscalculation because Canadians will always take care of each other,” Carney said.

The latest U.S. tariffs on a small number of Canadian goods went into effect Tuesday as Washington presses on in its trade war with Canada.

The latest tariffs come amid an ever-evolving trade war between the two countries after Canada walked away from formal negotiations last month. Carney has said the Americans made last-minute demands that would undermine Canada’s sovereignty.

Canada wants to strike a deal that “not just protects, but promotes our official languages,” Carney told the Liberal caucus.

Carney was in Europe earlier this week, where European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada its first “associate member.”

In his address to caucus, Carney said Ottawa had “launched a process for a new alliance with Europe” but did not say whether this meant the “associate member” tag.

The Liberals will also introduce the Sade Social Media Act in the fall, he added.

“I know you are hearing the concerns of families and educators in your own communities. Children are falling victim to sexual abuse, cyberbullying, and extreme violence online. The current status quo is failing our kids, and we will not stand by it,” Carney told Liberal MPs.

–With files from Canadian Press