Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a decisive break from the United States on Thursday, signaling a major shift in the historically close alliance between the two nations.
“The deep economic integration and close security cooperation we once had with the U.S. is over,” Carney stated during a press conference in Ottawa after meeting with his ministers to explore trade alternatives in response to Donald Trump’s newly imposed permanent 25% tariffs on all imported vehicles and auto parts.
While acknowledging uncertainty over the U.S.’s next moves, Carney emphasized Canada’s independence and resilience. “Canadians have agency. We have power. We are in control of our own future,” he declared. “No foreign government, including the United States, can take away more than we can build ourselves. Our best response is to strengthen our own economy from within.”
Carney stressed the urgency of reducing Canada’s economic reliance on the U.S., warning that drastic changes were necessary. “We must shift our trade relationships, rethink our economic strategy, and act faster than we have in generations,” he said.
A day earlier, Carney had condemned the tariffs as a “direct attack,” vowing to protect Canadian workers and businesses.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., the announcement sent shockwaves through the auto industry, with major American manufacturers suffering immediate market losses. The tariffs, set to take effect on April 3 for vehicles and May 3 for auto parts, have ignited a full-blown trade war.
Despite the White House’s claims that the tariffs are intended to curb illegal drug trafficking, Trump has openly admitted that his ultimate goal is to pressure Canada into joining the U.S. as a state. This aggressive stance has raised concerns about severe economic consequences, particularly for American states along the northern border.
