Canadian PM Says He Won't Sign a US Trade Deal Just for the Sake of a Deal
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Politico he will not strike a trade agreement with the US merely to have one, and is prepared to wait for a new US leader if necessary. He said American families and businesses would also suffer.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that if his government cannot negotiate an acceptable trade agreement with the administration of US President Donald Trump, he is prepared to wait for a new American leader to take office. He made the remarks in an interview with the US political outlet Politico. The issue matters because the two countries remain locked in a trade dispute over tariffs affecting steel, cars and other goods.
Carney stressed that he would not sign a deal "just for the sake of making one." Asked whether that meant he would wait for a new president if required, the prime minister answered yes. In his words, Canada would have to do so if necessary, but American families and businesses would also suffer as a result. He said that in these circumstances there are no winners. Carney also said Canadians are tired of diplomatic provocations coming from the United States.
Background
Media have reported that the US and Canada are working on an arrangement that would ease American tariffs on Canadian steel and cars. In August, trade talks between the two countries reached a dead end, and the US imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian goods. Trump also renamed Lake Ontario "Lake America" and mocked Canada on social media.
On 25 August, Canada announced new tariffs on imports from the US, which took effect on 8 September. Trump then signed orders banning imports from Canada of a wide range of alcoholic drinks, motorcycles and dairy products, in response to the tariffs imposed by Ottawa.
