The new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday, March 27, that the time for close cooperation with the United States was “finished” because the country was no longer a “reliable partner”. “The old relationship we had with the United States, based on the in-depth integration of our economies and close cooperation in security and defense, is over,” he said at a press conference. However, he said that he had to talk to US President Donald Trump in “a day or two” at the request of Washington.
On Wednesday, the American president announced his intention to impose customs duties of 25 % on imports of cars. A measure that would be added to the customs prices already imposed by Washington on steel and aluminum. “I oppose any attempt trying to weaken Canada, to divide us so that America can own us, it will never happen,” reacted Mark Carney, promising to retaliate.
“We will fight American customs tariffs by commercial reprisal actions that will have a maximum impact in the United States and a minimum impact here in Canada,” added the new Prime Minister who took office less than two weeks ago.
Towards a “new Canadian economy”
The latter, who sparked early elections, interrupted his campaign on Wednesday afternoon following the new announcements of Donald Trump to meet the Prime Ministers of the Canadian Provinces.
On Thursday, he insisted on the “respect” that the American president must show for a dialogue to be possible. “For me, there are two conditions, not necessarily for an appeal, but for negotiations with the United States. The first is respect, respect for our sovereignty as a country,” he said.
And “there must be a global discussion between the two of us, including with regard to our economy and our security”. The two men had not had a telephone exchange since Mark Carney came into office, replacing Justin Trudeau on March 14. The new leader has promised to “build a new Canadian economy”, in particular by bringing down the customs barriers that exist between the Canadian provinces.