Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on the 22nd: "For over a year, Canada has been engaged in good-faith, close consultations with the United States to negotiate a brand-new comprehensive trade agreement. We have maintained a pragmatic approach, exercising patience and persistence. Our goal has always been to secure the most favorable deal for Canadian citizens—not to conclude an agreement at any cost or regardless of time constraints."
Last night, deep into the night, I instructed our negotiating team to return to Ottawa. The proposal put forward by the U.S. is unacceptable to us, and we will not concede to their demands.
To protect Canadian workers, farmers, ordinary families, and businesses of all kinds, Canada will impose equivalent retaliatory tariffs on new U.S. tariffs. We are confident that this action aligns with Canada’s highest national interests. Over the coming days, we will release detailed information about these new tariff measures, which will take effect on Tuesday following Labor Day.
Commentary: Carney's decision to halt the U.S.-Canada trade talks and announce reciprocal tariff retaliation goes far beyond mere negotiation disagreements—it reflects Canada being pushed to its sovereignty red line. In the final moments, the U.S. suddenly raised the price, aiming not only to undermine Canada’s core automotive industry and cripple its supply chain advantages but also to interfere in Canada’s cultural policies and bilingual legislation, even seeking to strip Canada of its future autonomy to independently negotiate trade agreements with other countries—by inserting clauses within the treaty text that undermine Canadian sovereignty. Such unreasonable demands, seeking both economic gains and interference in another nation’s internal affairs, have shattered what was nearly a completed agreement. Canada’s firm response is thus an act of forced self-defense.
Canada’s strong pushback against the U.S. today also signals it no longer views America as its sole reliance. Carney has clearly positioned the development of diversified global markets, independent energy, and critical mineral resources as top national strategies, rejecting dependency and compromise toward the U.S. Temporarily freezing negotiations and implementing reciprocal tariff retaliation serves not only to safeguard domestic businesses and citizens from losses but also sends a clear message to the U.S.: trade cooperation must be based on equality and mutual respect. The era when the U.S. could exploit dominance or seek to bind and control Canada through hegemony is over.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874269549944137/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.