Canada can't fully match US tariff responses
Canada is limited in how it can respond to new tariffs set by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He explained that Canada’s economy is much smaller than the U.S. economy, making it hard to match tariffs dollar for dollar. Carney spoke with reporters in London about potential tariffs that Trump may announce on April 2. He mentioned that Trump has plans for new tariffs on sectors like autos and pharmaceuticals. When Trump first proposed 25% tariffs on Canada, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with plans to target around C$155 billion worth of U.S. goods. The Trudeau government followed through by imposing tariffs on about C$60 billion in U.S. imports. Carney expressed concerns about going beyond this amount, as any further action would need to significantly impact the U.S. while causing minimal harm to Canada. He noted that some items on the list were chosen specifically for this reason. During his first foreign trip as Prime Minister, Carney met with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He indicated that Canada makes its own decisions regarding trade with the U.S. Unlike Canada, the UK did not retaliate against Trump's recent tariffs on steel and aluminum. Carney emphasized that Canada is looking for a broader discussion on commercial and security relationships with the United States. He stated, “When the United States is ready to have that conversation, we’re ready to sit down.”