RismadarVoice Reporters
September 4, 2026
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Ottawa is prepared to reach a trade agreement with the United States that benefits businesses, workers and consumers in both countries, following the collapse of recent negotiations between the two neighbours.
Carney said any future agreement would need to provide stability and credibility, adding that Canada remains willing to return to discussions when Washington is ready.
“The deal that’s possible, that’s in the interests of Canadian workers, families and businesses, is also the deal that is in the interests of American families, American businesses, American consumers,” Carney told reporters in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The comments come after trade talks between Canada and the US broke down last month. Following the collapse of negotiations, Washington imposed 50 per cent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, while Ottawa announced retaliatory tariffs on a similar value of US products.
The United States has also threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian automobiles and auto parts from January 1.
Carney rejected claims by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that Canada abandoned the trade talks due to domestic political considerations, saying unelected US officials were not experts on Canadian politics.
The Canadian leader suggested that Washington’s position had recently softened, creating room for renewed discussions.
Carney said some issues that the US had strongly pushed during the final stages of negotiations were no longer being raised, describing the earlier approach as an “our way or the highway” position.
The remarks came shortly before US President Donald Trump responded in a social media post, accusing Canadian politicians of portraying him as an opponent and warning that such a stance could harm Canada’s economy.
The trade dispute has increased Canada’s efforts to reduce its economic dependence on the United States, which has historically received nearly 80 per cent of Canadian exports.
Recent data from Statistics Canada showed that the US share of Canadian exports fell to 66.35 per cent in July, compared with 69.39 per cent in June and 72.64 percent aper centarlier.
Canada has also announced plans to invest 4.7 billion Canadian dollars ($3.4 billion) to build and maintain more than 300 Via Rail passenger cars domestically, using facilities in Quebec and Thunder Bay as part of efforts to reduce reliance on imported equipment.
