Trump’s unveiling of 10 percent tariffs on imports from around the world and harsh additional levies on key trading partners ignited global anger, but for Canada the impact of the latest announcement was limited.
Previously announced US levies on Canadian steel and aluminium remain in place. Canada may also be hit hard by Trump’s auto sector tariffs.
But America’s northern neighbour and largest trading partner was not singled out for additional tariffs, and Canadian goods compliant with an existing North American free trade agreement appear exempt from new levies for now.
Carney noted that Trump’s latest announcement “preserved a number of important elements of our relationship, the commercial relationship between Canada and the United States.”
The prime minister, who replaced Justin Trudeau last month, said Trump’s trade war will “negatively” impact the US economy and will “directly affect millions of Canadians.”
“We are going to fight these tariffs with counter measures. We are going to protect our workers,” Carney said in Ottawa.
“In a crisis it is important to come together and it is essential to act with purpose and with force and that is what we will do,” he added.
Last week in a call with Trump, the pair agreed to discuss the future of bilateral trade after the election.
Polls currently project Carney’s Liberal Party will win a majority. (AFP)
