Canadian PM Mark Carney Blames US Tariffs on Biden and Trump for Economic Sabotage

Published on 23/08/2026 – 8:15 GMT+2

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized new U.S. tariffs imposed on Canada, accusing both the Biden and Trump administrations of pursuing policies designed to harm Canadian interests and create division. The tariffs, which affect approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, went into effect on Saturday after negotiations between Ottawa and Washington collapsed.

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Carney explained that Canada rejected what he termed a “fundamentally flawed agreement,” stating: “We cannot accept what they’ve offered, and we will not give what they’ve asked.” He emphasized that last-minute alterations to the proposed deal by U.S. negotiators undermined trust in the process.

“These unilateral changes are economically unsound and unfair, calling into question the reliability of any agreement reached under such circumstances,” Carney said in a formal statement. He warned that Canada would respond with reciprocal tariffs “dollar for dollar” to shield domestic workers and businesses.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai labeled the impasse a “missed opportunity” for Canada, alleging that Ottawa’s demands disrupted terms previously agreed upon. “Despite the U.S. offer to grant Canada preferential access to our market, new Canadian requirements and retractions of prior commitments have destabilized weeks of negotiations,” her office wrote on social media.

The breakdown occurred against a backdrop of optimism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who delayed implementing tariffs earlier in the week amid rumors of a potential deal. However, Trump shifted blame to Canada on Sunday, claiming that Carney sought “all the perks of statehood without actually becoming a state.” He also criticized Canada’s long-standing tariffs on American agricultural exports, writing: “They’ve fleeced our farmers for years. Not anymore!”

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has aggressively escalated tariffs on trading partners worldwide, framing them as tools to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and counteract perceived trade imbalances. Critics argue that these measures are driving up costs for American consumers and sowing uncertainty among businesses reliant on global supply chains.

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