Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Criticizes U.S. Approach in Trade Negotiations

<p>Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on September 2, 2026, that Americans need to "stop trying to be tough" during ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada. Carney made these comments to reporters in Ottawa, addressing the contentious discussions over automobile tariffs.</p><p>Carney said, "When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions." He added that the current approach is not constructive but acknowledged it is part of the U.S. democratic process.</p><p>Following Canada’s suspension of trade talks on August 21, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, which is bordered by New York and Ontario.</p><p>U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and War Secretary Pete Hegseth also made remarks on social media that mocked Canada, with Bessent stating that Canada could not engage in a tit-for-tat with the U.S. economy. Carney responded to these comments, saying, "It's beneath their office."</p><p>Carney highlighted issues regarding language, culture, and restrictions on future trade deals as barriers to reaching an agreement. He expressed concerns that the U.S. terms would effectively make Canadian industries subsidiaries of U.S. industries, stating, "We're not going to accept those terms."</p><p>Trump accused Canada of wanting the benefits of being a U.S. state without actually being one, and claimed that Canada has been taking advantage of U.S. farmers by imposing tariffs.</p><p>Carney criticized the U.S. insistence on controlling Canada’s trade relationships with other countries as excessive. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in the auto industry, stating, "The United States auto industry is made stronger by the Canadian and the Mexican auto industries."</p><p>Carney indicated that there were elements of a mutually beneficial deal that were being discussed, but negotiations diverged towards the end. He noted that relations with the U.S. will not return to normal soon, describing the current situation as a "new normal" that Canada must adjust to.</p><p>In response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods such as steel and lumber, Carney announced that Canada would impose its own tariffs, set to take effect on September 8, 2026, matching the U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar.</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Treasury, the Pentagon, and the Canadian Prime Minister's Office for further comments.</p>