Canada faces August 19 tariff deadline as Carney warns against cutting energy exports
Prime Minister Mark Carney says trust may be Canada's most important commodity as officials negotiate with the U.S. ahead of 50 percent tariffs.
Sources · local media reports
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Prime Minister Mark Carney cautioned Wednesday against leveraging Canada's energy exports as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States, saying trust may be the country's most important commodity.
Carney made the comments in Red Deer while announcing a homebuilding plan alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. His remarks came days after Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested Canada could "dismantle" the United States by restricting critical energy exports in response to Washington's threatened tariffs.
"When you're a supplier of a key commodity, you ought to think hard about cutting off the flow to customers," Carney said. He argued that of all commodities Canada has in abundance, trust and reputation as a reliable supplier may matter most.
Canada's chief trade negotiator Janice Charette and Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc are currently in Washington negotiating ahead of the Trump administration's new round of 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, set to take effect August 19. The deadline comes weeks after earlier tariff threats that have fuelled concerns about cross-border trade and economic stability.
What is Canada's negotiating position on specific tariff categories beyond energy?
Has any province indicated it will pursue its own trade talks with the U.S.?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
