Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged retaliatory measures equivalent to US tariffs “dollar for dollar,” following the collapse of critical trade negotiations by the midnight deadline.
“Last-minute modifications to the US-proposed terms proved inequitable, economically unsound, and undermined confidence in the agreement’s viability,” Carney stated in an official announcement.
The United States will enforce 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian imports after final-stage discussions failed to mend growing tensions between the long-standing allies.
“Tonight, Canada opted not to finalize the trade agreement under previously negotiated conditions,” declared US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during a late-night press briefing.
“Canada’s unexpected new demands and withdrawal from prior commitments have destabilized months of delicate negotiations.”
President Donald Trump’s import duties target approximately 5% of Canada’s annual US-bound exports, affecting diverse sectors from sporting goods to medical supplies.
While the immediate financial ramifications remain significant—bilateral trade reached $880 billion last year—the political repercussions threaten deeper strain on transcontinental cooperation.
The tariff implementation, originally scheduled for 12:01am Wednesday, received a three-day extension to accommodate ongoing dialogue. Despite prolonged efforts, consensus remained elusive.
Reporting contributed by Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
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