Canada’s PM Mark Carney Declares ‘Old Ties with US Are Over’ Amid Trade War with Trump

Ottawa, March 28, 2025: Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has declared that the era of close economic and military cooperation with the United States is “over,” signaling a dramatic shift in Canada-US relations amid an escalating trade war.

“The old relationship we had with the United States, based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over,” Carney said following an emergency meeting with his cabinet on Canada-US relations. “What exactly the United States does next is unclear. But what is clear is that we as Canadians have agency, we have power. We are masters in our own home.”

Trump vs. Carney: A New Battle Begins
Since assuming office on March 14, Carney has yet to speak directly with US President Donald Trump. However, he expects a conversation in the coming days, though he did not indicate that relations between the two countries would improve.

Carney made it clear that the US is no longer a “reliable partner” and warned that future Canadian governments would have to adopt a fundamentally different approach. “It is possible that with comprehensive negotiations, we will be able to restore some trust, but there will be no turning back,” he asserted.

Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs Escalate the Trade War
In response to Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles, Canada has retaliated with tariffs on US imports worth $41.9 billion. The Carney government has vowed to impose additional tariffs on roughly $66 billion worth of American goods if Trump proceeds with his latest 25% tariff on vehicles with non-domestic components.

“We won’t back down. We will respond forcefully. Nothing is off the table to defend our workers and our country,” Carney said, suggesting that more countermeasures could be announced soon.

Election Looms as Carney Seeks Stronger Mandate
Amid rising tensions, Carney has called a snap election for April 28, seeking a stronger mandate to confront Trump’s economic threats. Trump has repeatedly made controversial remarks urging Canada to become a “51st US state,” further fueling nationalist sentiment north of the border.

The election will be a tight contest between Carney’s Liberals and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives. The Liberals have gained ground since Justin Trudeau’s resignation, but Carney faces a significant challenge in proving he can lead Canada through one of its most turbulent foreign policy shifts in decades.