Canada’s Prime Minister says affordability, sovereignty must come first as U.S. trade pressure returns
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Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will keep centering affordability, opportunity and sovereignty despite the latest U.S. election results, while trade talks with the United States are restarting amid renewed pressure and uncertainty.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that Canada remains "confident" and will continue to prioritize affordability, opportunity and greater sovereignty, regardless of the outcome of the recent U.S. midterm elections. He said the country will keep its attention on these essential issues in the coming weeks and underscored Canada’s role as a partner to many nations, including the United States, without letting Washington set Canada’s agenda.
Carney added that while developments in the United States are important, Canada’s priorities will not be dictated from abroad. He noted that more intense trade negotiations with the United States are set to resume after a recent phone call with President Donald Trump, signaling another round of high-stakes talks over tariffs and economic leverage.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre urged the prime minister to use Canada’s leverage to secure a favorable deal, arguing that tariffs on Canada would also affect American consumers. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon echoed the stance of controlling what can be controlled in the bilateral relationship, as officials seek to protect Canadian interests from U.S. economic pressure.
The comments come as Canadian officials respond to the Democrats' sweep of both chambers of the U.S. Congress and ongoing trade tensions that have impacted businesses on both sides of the border.