Mark Carney denounces the trade “war” launched by Donald Trump against Canada and worries about “threats against the French language”

The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, denounced, Saturday August 22, a ” war “ trade launched by the United States against his country after the entry into force of new surcharges, following the breakdown of trade negotiations between the two neighbors.

The head of government announced retaliatory measures targeting American steel or dairy products, after refusing the “bad agreement” trade proposed by Washington. These measures, which will also affect the paper industry, agricultural machinery and electronics, will come into force on September 8, he said during a press conference.

Canadian surcharges will be equivalent, “to the nearest dollar”to the American customs duties which came into force on Saturday, which concern approximately 20 billion dollars (nearly 17 billion euros) of Canadian imports, including cement and hockey sticks.

Donald Trump’s reaction was not long in coming. Castigating Canada, the American president wrote on his network on Truth Social: “Canada wants the advantages of a state (from the United States) without being one! ! ! ». “They have also imposed enormous tariffs on our great farmers for many years. That’s enough! ! ! »he added.

Previously, American negotiator Jamieson Greer declared on Fox News that the United States would go “move forward with measures to respond to Canadian retaliation”without giving details. He also affirmed that no round of negotiations with Canada was on the agenda.

After weeks of negotiations, Mark Carney decided on Friday evening to end the negotiations, just before the White House ultimatum expired. “At the last moment, the United States tried to add elements to restrict our ability to have other trade agreements”he denounced, from Ottawa.

“When you are attacked, you are at war. We were attacked”declared the Canadian Prime Minister, according to whom the United States “asked too much and offered too little”.

“America has changed”

Mark Carney also spoke of “threats against the French language” and the “Quebec culture”relating, according to him, to subsidies for French-speaking culture, the place of French-language media online and the obligation for bilingual labeling of products sold in Canada. “This is not acceptable”he stressed.

Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, Canada has been on the front line of the trade war launched by the American president, who continues to say that he wants to make his neighbor the “51st State” American.

But the deterioration of their relations over the past year and a half has reached a new level, with the new round of American surcharges affecting in particular products normally protected by Aceum, the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“America has changed”notes Mark Carney, who adds: “We cannot control the storm that blows from Washington. » The Canadian government, which called for a reduction in surcharges on hard-hit sectors, such as steel, had sent signs of goodwill, asking provincial authorities to put an end to the boycott of American wines and spirits, a central demand from Washington. In vain.

Economically dependent

In Canada, all political leaders supported the government’s decision to break off negotiations. “President Trump cannot be trusted, it’s as simple as that”declared to the Canadian media Doug Ford, premier of the province of Ontario, who praised the action of Mark Carney.

The Canadian economy could nevertheless find itself hit hard by this new round of surcharges and counter-surtaxes, the United States being, by far, Canada’s largest trading partner, with exports to this country representing around 70% of the total. Mark Carney tried to reassure businesses by announcing support measures “for as long as it takes”. They should be detailed within a few days.

The Business Roundtable, which brings together more than 200 leaders of large American companies, called on the two governments to “return to the negotiating table” And “to lift harmful customs duties”according to a written statement from its general manager, Joshua Bolten.

Since coming to power in March 2025, Mark Carney has tried to reduce his country’s dependence on its big neighbor by seeking new trading partners, in Asia or Europe. “We are stronger now than we were when the United States started this trade war. More united, more determined, more ambitious”he said.