Barry Ellsworth
24 August 2026•Update: 24 August 2026
Canada will resume trade talks with the US when Washington shows the “right attitude,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday.
Speaking at a news conference announcing plans to build six new icebreakers at a Quebec shipyard, Carney struck a defiant tone after negotiations on a new trade agreement between the two countries broke down Friday.
“When the Americans go to the negotiating table first with the right attitude toward our industry and a true partnership, of course we’ll come to the negotiation table,” Carney said.
Carney said the talks collapsed after the US changed its demands at the last minute, including seeking limits on the use of French in some cases and requiring US approval for Canadian trade agreements with other countries.
US officials have denied the claims.
President Donald Trump said Monday on his Truth Social platform that Canada is “among the worst Nations in the World to deal with. They feel entitled yet WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US.”
About 70% of Canadian exports go to the US.
Following the breakdown in negotiations, a threatened 50% US tariff on CAN$28 billion (US$20.21 billion) worth of Canadian goods took effect Saturday.
Trump also announced that an additional 50% tariff on Canadian cars, trucks and auto parts would take effect Jan. 1 after the talks failed to produce an agreement.
Carney, however, said Canada was reducing its reliance on the US market by expanding trade relationships with other countries.
“In a rapidly changing world Canada is setting a new course,” said a statement by Carney's office. “We are moving fast, seizing new opportunities and reducing our dependence on any single partner.
“Canada is now the best-connected economy in the world.”
Carney said Canada has signed 20 trade and security agreements with countries outside the US as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on its southern neighbor.
He also said Canada would match US tariffs dollar-for-dollar on goods to be announced in early September.
