‘Unfair’: Canada suspends trade talks with US, PM Carney says will match tariffs ‘dollar for dollar’
Canada has suspended trade negotiations with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney said, after last-minute changes to Washington’s proposed terms were deemed “unfair” and “uneconomic”, a day after US President Donald Trump had said that US “should be able to have a deal with Canada.“Carney said the decision followed recent progress in talks but added that it had not been enough to meet Canada’s objectives of securing tariff-free access for most Canadian businesses, reducing US tariffs on key industries and protecting small and medium-sized businesses.“Over the past 18 months, Canada’s new government has focused on building our strength at home, diversifying our partnerships abroad, and striking a fair deal with the United States,” said Carney in a statement.Further annoucing the decision to supend the negotiations he added, “In recent weeks, we made important progress toward improving Canada’s position as having the best deal in the world with the US. However, that progress has not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians. As a result, this evening, I have decided to suspend trade negotiations with the US and have directed Canada’s negotiators to return to Ottawa. They have worked hard, in good faith, to defend the interests of Canadians throughout these negotiations up until the very last minute. However, last-minute changes in the US proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.”This came as the two countries were in negotiations as the US is set to impose a 50 per cent tariff on about C$28 billion of Canadian goods from midnight, according to the Canadian government. Canada will respond with matching tariffs “dollar for dollar”, Carney said.He also directed Canada’s trade negotiators to return to Ottawa, saying the latest US proposals raised questions about the reliability of any potential deal.Carney said Canada would continue its strategy of reducing dependence on the US by strengthening its domestic economy and expanding trade with other markets. Canada’s existing free-trade agreements provide preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers, he said, adding that the government expects to double that market access by the end of the year.The government will also introduce additional measures to support Canadian workers and businesses, building on nearly C$25 billion in support provided over the past 18 months, Carney said.Meanwhile, US trade representative Jamieson Greer slammed Canada over the failed talked in a statement read to reporters on a press call shortly before midnight.“Tonight, Canada declined to finalize the trade deal under the terms agreed earlier this week. Despite the US offer to Canada to receive the best treatment of any major exporter to our market, new demands and walk backs of other commitments by Canada have upended the careful balance reached in the past days,” he said.This came a day after US president Donald Trump had expressed hope for a deal. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump was asked about the status of the Canada deal. He had said, “Pretty much, I think so, we’ll see. I’ve dealt with the Prime Minister, have a good relationship and yeah, we have to take care of our farmers. Our farmers are very important to me and the deal with Canada is moving along and we should be able to have a deal with Canada.“
