President Donald Trump sharply intensified his criticism of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday, warning that portraying Trump and the United States as Canada’s enemy may carry devastating economic and political consequences as the neighboring countries remain embroiled in a worsening trade confrontation.
Trump argued that Carney and other Canadian politicians may currently see political advantage in directing public anger toward him, but predicted that the strategy will eventually turn against them as economic damage from the trade dispute mounts.
“It is very good for Canadian Politicians like Prime Minister Carney to make President Donald J. Trump ‘the enemy,’ until their Economy collapses, then it will prove to be very bad for Politics — Worse than anything that has ever happened to a Canadian Politician,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Just watch!”
The president’s warning followed pointed remarks from Carney two days earlier, when the Canadian prime minister accused Washington of relying on rhetoric and posturing instead of engaging seriously in efforts to resolve the trade standoff.
Carney said the United States needed to “stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough” and get serious about trade negotiations.
The Canadian leader indicated that negotiations could restart if the Trump administration adopted a different posture. At the same time, he charged that American officials were pressing for concessions that could undermine important Canadian industries and infringe on the country’s sovereignty.
Tensions between Washington and Ottawa have risen dramatically since negotiations broke down on Aug. 21, with officials on both sides accusing their counterparts of causing the prospective agreement to unravel. Following the collapse of the talks, Trump slapped 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. Canada responded by announcing plans to impose matching retaliatory tariffs on American products beginning Sept. 8.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent placed responsibility for the failed negotiations squarely on Carney on Wednesday, saying the Canadian prime minister had made a “political decision” to abandon negotiations despite the two countries being on the “1-yard line” of reaching an agreement.
Bessent said he expects Carney eventually to return to negotiations with Washington. He also cautioned that when Canada does come back to the table, the terms offered by the United States could be less advantageous than those previously available.
The trade confrontation could become even more costly in the coming months. Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canadian automobiles, auto parts and steel beginning in January, potentially expanding the economic impact of the dispute and increasing pressure on Ottawa to reach an agreement with Washington.
{Matzav.com}
