Canada is taking a bold new step under the leadership of its newly appointed Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who has proclaimed that the traditional bond with the United States is a thing of the past.
Carney, who hails from a background of global finance and has ascended to Canada’s highest office without an election, has quickly distanced Canada from its greatest ally and primary trade partner. Instead, he is aligning himself with European elites and pushing for a comprehensive transformation of the Canadian economy.
On Thursday, Carney addressed the nation from Ottawa, criticizing President Trump’s enduring 25% tariffs on Canadian auto exports, labeling them as a “very direct attack” on the livelihoods of Canadian workers.
Carney: Our biggest challenge as a country is becoming the most urgent. Over the coming weeks, months, and years, we must fundamentally reimagine our economy. We will need to ensure that Canada can succeed in a drastically different world.
The old relationship we had with the United States—based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation—is over.
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.
We can control our destiny. We can give ourselves much more than any foreign government, including the United States, can ever take away. We can deal with this crisis best by building our strength right here at home.
It will take hard work. It will take steady focus and determination—from governments, from businesses, from labor, from Canadians. We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States.
We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere, and we will need to do things previously thought impossible, at speeds we haven’t seen in generations.
But we can make ourselves more productive—and therefore more competitive. We can break down internal trade barriers. We can build a stronger and more resilient economy. That’s what I’m squarely focused on as your Prime Minister.
This bold statement from Carney follows President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on automobile imports.
On Wednesday, President Trump took action to adjust tariffs on vehicles produced abroad, enforcing 25% tariffs on a wide range of imported vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, and light trucks. Key auto parts such as engines, transmissions, and powertrain components are also affected, with provisions in place to expand tariffs to additional parts if deemed necessary.
These tariffs align with the President’s executive order to implement reciprocal tariffs on any country imposing taxes or tariffs on U.S. imports. This order is set to take effect on April 2, a day the White House has proudly dubbed “Liberation Day.”
“Calling Donald Trump a fascist is an insult to democracy and to history. You are turning the graveyards of the 20th century into a playground to have out your political spats. Get a grip”
— spiked (@spikedonline)
February 18, 2025
