Canada to unveil response to Trump's latest tariffs amid trade dispute
Canada says it will announce retaliatory measures in early September against new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, as tensions between the two neighboring countries continue to escalate.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday that his government will soon announce its response to new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, as relations between the once-close allies continue to deteriorate.
Carney noted that American negotiators viewed the French language in Canada as an "irritant," while in Quebec it represents fundamental rights. His comments came just days after receiving widespread praise from political leaders for rejecting a US trade proposal that many saw as undermining Quebec's Francophone culture.
Trump, for his part, posted on social media that Canada had been "ripping off" the United States for years, threatening a new round of economically damaging tariffs on cars and trucks. Last week, Carney instructed his negotiators to walk away from trade talks with the US. Over the weekend, tariffs on a range of Canadian products took effect, affecting roughly 5% of Canada's exports to the US. Canada said it plans to retaliate in early September.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette praised Carney's decision to end the talks, saying they had approached a "red line" for the province's Francophone population. Meanwhile, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer dismissed reports that French language protections were under negotiation as a "funny fake story," adding that he likes the Quebecois and that they speak French.
The dispute suggests the trade conflict between the US and Canada continues to deepen, straining both economic and diplomatic ties between the longtime allies.
