Mark Carney has criticised Donald Trump’s administration and called on US officials to approach trade discussions “seriously” as tensions between the United States and Canada intensify.
The Canadian prime minister spoke ahead of Canada’s planned retaliation against sweeping US tariffs, due to begin on 8 September. In remarks carried in the lead-up to the measures, Carney also targeted Washington’s tone, saying insults and public jabs were not appropriate when both sides were seeking a way forward.
Carney Criticises Washington Language and Style
Carney said US officials needed to stop using “memes” and “shade” and instead focus on substantive negotiations about trade.
He added that criticism of Canada was “beneath” the office of the US government, and argued that both countries could work through differences if discussions were handled in a more constructive manner.
The comments came as the dispute has spilled beyond tariffs and into politics. Last week, Trump signed an executive order directing the US federal government to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America”, a change rejected by Canadian leaders.
Tariffs And Retaliation Ahead Of 8 September
The tariff fight escalated earlier this month after trade talks between the two neighbours collapsed. The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20bn of Canadian goods.
Canada responded by announcing retaliatory tariffs on $20bn of American goods, starting on 8 September. The measures are expected to affect everyday items for US consumers, alongside other products covered by the reciprocal action.
Canada is the United States’ second-largest trading partner, and the widening tariffs threaten to raise pressure on both sides as negotiations stall.
Greer Plays Down Impact, Blames Talks Breakdown
Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative and the president’s senior trade negotiator, said the worst consequences of a trade war would be felt more by Canada than the United States. He described the dispute as “more their emergency than ours”.
In an interview reported by Politico, Greer said there were no active trade talks at the time, adding: “There are no negotiations happening on trade right now.” He also argued that it was not clear Canada wanted a deal and said Canada had framed its position around prohibiting or banning American goods and services.
Greer suggested that demands from Canadian officials helped derail the earlier negotiations, including requests for lighter taxes on heavy-duty trucks. He also described confusion over what was actually on the table, saying it was unclear whether disputes were driven by politics or economics, and noting that the range of options had not included a simple path back to duty-free trade.
Dispute Over Who Led Talks, Plus French Language Rights
Canadian officials said the talks failed because of disagreement inside the White House over who was directing trade negotiations. Carney also pointed to issues he said US negotiators raised during discussions, claiming American counterparts treated the French language in Canada as an “irritant”, while Carney said French language rights in Quebec must be respected.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Canada seeks the benefits of being part of the United States without formally joining. He has also accused Canada of imposing tariffs on US products, including on farmers, and said “No more” in relation to those measures.
As Canada prepares its retaliation on 8 September and the US maintains its tariff approach, Carney’s call for a more serious tone underscores the widening gap between the two governments at a moment when both sides say negotiations have stalled.
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2 September 2026
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