Canada’s ‘old relationship’ with U.S. ‘is over’ amid Trump tariffs: Carney

Carney promised to bring retaliatory measures and reduce internal trade barriers after Trump announced new auto tariffs that will begin next week.

Canada must “fundamentally reimagine our economy” in the face of escalating tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday, declaring the “old relationship” between Canada and the U.S. is “over.”

Carney promised to bring retaliatory measures, reduce internal trade barriers and pivot Canada’s economy away from reliance on the U.S., after Trump announced new auto tariffs that will begin next week.

“Over the coming weeks, months and years, we must fundamentally reimagine our economy,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa after meeting with the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations.

“The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over.”

Carney wouldn’t say exactly what retaliatory measures the federal government will take in response to Trump’s latest round of tariffs. He said more will be announced on April 2, when the new auto tariffs and further “reciprocal” tariffs on all foreign trading partners are set to begin.

Carney confirmed he has not yet spoken to Trump since becoming prime minister earlier this month, but plans to do so in “the next day or two” after he said Trump reached out Wednesday evening to schedule a call.

“I appreciate the opportunity to discuss how we can protect our workers and build our economies,” Carney said. “I will make clear to the president that those interests are best served by cooperation and mutual respect, including of our sovereignty.”

Carney pressed pause on his federal election campaign as the Liberal Party leader Thursday to chair the cabinet committee meeting weighing Canada’s response to the fresh round of tariffs coming from Trump administration.