Amid an escalating tariff dispute, US President Donald Trump described his first call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as “extremely productive.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that the two leaders plan to meet “immediately” after Canada’s elections on April 28 to discuss politics, business, and broader economic issues.
However, tensions remain high between the two North American allies. Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on vehicle imports, set to take effect next week, threatens to cripple Canada’s auto industry. On Thursday evening, Carney responded sharply, declaring that the United States is “no longer a reliable trading partner” and warning that US-Canada relations have been “fundamentally altered” moving forward.
A Strained Relationship
Carney, who took office on February 14, had yet to speak with Trump until now—a departure from the tradition of new Canadian prime ministers promptly reaching out to their US counterparts. His response to the tariffs was firm, stating that the long-standing Canada-US Automotive Products Agreement, in place since 1965, is effectively “finished.”
The Canadian leader also pledged to impose retaliatory tariffs on the US, vowing that they would have “maximum impact.” Meanwhile, Trump’s repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st US state have further fueled tensions, drawing widespread criticism from Canadians.
As the trade conflict deepens, all eyes are on the upcoming Canada-US negotiations, with both nations bracing for the economic fallout of this high-stakes tariff war.
