Trump’s move “direct attack,” Canada will respond.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded strongly to the latest actions taken by the United States, calling it a “very direct attack” on Canada. In a statement, he emphasized that Canada would not back down, vowing to protect its workers, companies, and sovereignty. The comments reflect Canada’s commitment to standing up against any actions it perceives as harmful to its national interests and its citizens.
Ottawa: US President Donald Trump’s latest move is being labeled a “direct attack” on Canada by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Speaking on Wednesday, Carney reacted to the latest tariffs imposed by Trump, which were announced as a “permanent” measure. Earlier in the day, President Trump implemented a massive 25 percent tariff on all auto imports, including spare parts and ancillary components. “This tariff shall remain permanent,” Trump declared at the time of making the announcement, adding to the growing tensions between the two countries.
However, he refrained from announcing any immediate retaliatory measures, stating that Canada would need to first examine the full details of Trump’s executive order before responding.
Carney also made the decision to cut short his ongoing election campaign and return to Ottawa to chair a special meeting with the Cabinet committee on US relations. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the best course of action to take in response to what Carney called an “unjustified” move by the United States. The prime minister expressed confidence that Canada would stand firm against this unilateral action.
As part of his response plan, Carney announced a $2 billion (Canadian dollars) “strategic response fund” to protect Canadian workers, especially those employed in the auto industry, which is likely to be severely impacted by Trump’s decision. “Canada will protect its auto workers,” Carney assured the public, offering reassurance to hundreds of thousands of Canadians who may face uncertainty due to the new tariffs.
The automobile industry is Canada’s second-largest export sector, employing more than 125,000 Canadians directly and over 500,000 in related industries. The new tariffs on auto imports, especially when combined with other trade measures already taken by the United States, pose a serious threat to this critical sector of Canada’s economy.
Prime Minister Carney escalated his rhetoric in response to President Trump’s actions, accusing the U.S. leader of launching a global trade war. “Trump’s decisions are not only hurting Canada, but they’re also hurting Americans, and they’re hurting them badly,” Carney said. He pointed to a significant drop in U.S. consumer confidence, which had fallen 7.2 points in March, bringing the index to 92.9, the lowest it had been since January 2021. According to Carney, Trump’s trade war would hurt American consumers and workers in the long term, with American businesses facing higher costs and reduced sales due to the new tariffs.
The tariffs are expected to have widespread consequences for the automobile industry on both sides of the border. Carney’s remarks reflect growing concerns over the escalating tensions between Canada and the United States. The Conference Board of Canada reported that the U.S. consumer confidence index fell for the fourth consecutive month, signaling a broader economic impact. The increase in tariffs could lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers and could ultimately reduce the demand for American-made automobiles.
This latest move comes on top of other punitive measures imposed by Trump. He had already placed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, and he has threatened to extend sweeping tariffs on all Canadian goods starting April 2. These escalating trade actions have sparked growing frustration in Canada, with the country’s leaders expressing alarm over what they see as a deliberate strategy to undermine their economy.
In one of his more pointed comments, Carney accused Trump of attempting to “break” Canada, likening his actions to an effort to make Canada subordinate to the U.S. “And that will never ever happen.” He further stressed that the relationship between Canada and the United States had changed in recent years, but emphasized that Canada had not changed its approach or its commitment to maintaining strong ties with its neighbor to the south.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose province houses much of Canada’s auto industry, added his voice to the criticism, warning that the tariffs could result in significant job losses. He suggested that if the tariffs go ahead, auto plants on both sides of the border could shut down simultaneously. “President is calling it Liberation Day. I didn’t think he meant U.S. auto workers when he said it,” Ford remarked, highlighting the potential damage to both Canadian and American workers.
The rhetoric surrounding Trump’s actions has taken on a particularly nationalistic tone in Canada, with some accusing the U.S. president of pursuing an agenda to annex Canada. There are growing concerns that Trump sees Canada as a target for U.S. expansionism. His previous comments referring to the Canadian Prime Minister as a “Governor” have further fueled this perception, leading many to believe that this could be part of a broader strategy to incorporate Canada into the United States as its “51st state” under the guise of “national security.”
This move, which some analysts have suggested is driven by political motivations ahead of the upcoming U.S. election, has stirred up anti-American sentiments in Canada, with widespread criticism of Trump’s tactics and intentions. Carney and others have vowed to stand firm in defending Canada’s sovereignty and economic interests in the face of what they perceive as unjust and damaging trade policies.