Prime Minister Mark Careny announced new military equipment in Ontario on July 16, 2026 (from left): National Defence Minister David McGuinty; Prime Minister Mark Carney; and Dave Haggerty, VP and General Manager of General Dynamics Land Systems. [livestream]
Monday July 20, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted 5:19 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The berating approach of the United States President against Canada continues.
After a sociable afternoon at the FIFA World Cup 2026 yesterday in New Jersey, US President Trump has come out with another idea to pressure Canada’s economy.
To date, Carney and his senior ministers and senior officials have put up with and dealt with — blow by blow — a series of tariff threats and impositions that (at the very least) are in direct violation of the CUSMA/USMCA agreement.
Trump not letting up:
In the early days of Trump against Canada, many people thought it was bluster or sporadic. But Trump seems to want to break Canada, piece by piece.
CUSMA is now lasting for 10 more years, with an annual review, after the US deciding not to renegotiate the trilateral (Canada-US- Mexico) trade agreement at July 1, 2026.
Carney seems to have been feeling confident with his robust trade diversification plan — and while that of necessity must continue, this latest blow seems to have hit hard.
Different Canadian tone this time:
Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a statement this afternoon which feels like it has a tone of “enough is enough”, compared to previous responses that have taken the approach of biding time to see if the US administration would change it’s tack. Carney has even allowed Canada to take a few hard blows, like backing off on the Digital Services Tax.
In the last 24 hours Carney could have reached a frustration point, after hearing Trump say that Canada should pay a tariff for allowing wildfire smoke drift from Canada into the US.
Reassuring Canadians:
In today’s statement, Carney also seems to be reassuring Canadians that his government will continue to make best efforts, something he hasn’t done a lot of.
Carney has, since his election in April 2025 to lead Canada in the fight against the USA, enjoyed continued high support among a large number of Canadians — much longer than the usual ‘honeymoon period’ that most elected leaders see reduced at some point in their first term of office.
Here is the full statement:
Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the United States administration’s intention to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods
July 20, 2026 | Ottawa, ON
“Today, the United States administration announced its intention to impose a new 50% tariff on a significant number of Canadian goods.
“This is the latest in a series of unilateral U.S. trade actions that began with the U.S. imposing a series of tariffs in direct violation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the free trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
“These include tariffs on the Canadian auto sector, in violation of CUSMA. Canada, as is its right, has merely matched those measures.
“More broadly, in response to these measures and threats to Canadian sovereignty, provinces, territories, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast have stood together, taking the necessary actions to support our economy and defend our workers, farmers, businesses, and families.
“Recognising that the U.S. has been transforming all of its trade relationships, including those covered under CUSMA, over the past 18 months, Canada has made a series of detailed and comprehensive proposals to resolve this dispute and to modernise CUSMA. We stand ready to intensify those discussions in the coming weeks.
“Canada believes in the benefits of free and fair trade, as evidenced by our new government signing more than 20 new economic and security partnerships. This trade dispute has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S. Canada stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the U.S. to the mutual benefit of our citizens.
“In all circumstances, Canada will work relentlessly and take any measures necessary to build our strength at home and to support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families.”
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