Prime Minister Mark Carney took media questions outside his office in Ottawa, July 21, 2026. [livestream]
Tuesday July 21, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted at 4:40 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today Prime Minister Mark Carney met virtually with Canada’s provincial and territorial premiers.
He updated the 13 sub-national leaders on the latest in a series of unilateral United States trade actions that began with the U.S. imposing a series of tariffs in direct violation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which includes a US threat to impose 50% tariffs on a wide range of products starting 30 days from yesterday.
Prime Minister Mark Carney took media questions outside his office in Ottawa, July 21, 2026. [livestream]
According to today’s readout from the prime minister’s office, Carney underscored to the premiers about “Canada’s commitment to free and fair trade”. He said that Canada’s new government signing more than 20 new economic and security partnerships was evidence of that.
“He discussed Canada’s ongoing response to U.S. tariffs and the action taken by provinces, territories, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast to support our economy and defend Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families,” the prime minister’s readout stated.
Carney also evidently underscored that “Canada remains ready to engage with the U.S. for the mutual benefit of both countries”. He has said from the beginning that he’ll wait for a good deal rather than take a bad deal.
CUSMA:
In a media scrum in Ottawa today, Carney used a new phrase to describe progress or new directions with CUSMA: “CUSMA as it is, and CUSMA as it will be.”
“We don’t want a partial agreement,” but that addresses sectors like steel and aluminum – so they are globally of benefit to workers.
He says that “consumption habits” of Canadians (e.g. not buying US-made products, or not travelling to the US) have been supportive to negotiations in the broader spectrum of things.
Commending ‘team Canada’:
Prime Minister Carney commended premiers on “the significant steps they have taken together, alongside the federal government, to unlock our natural resources, increase our energy capacity, and build critical infrastructure needed to ensure Canada’s economy is stronger, more resilient, and more independent”, the prime minister’s readout stated.
Carney reiterated what he describes as “Canada’s commitment to work relentlessly and take any measures necessary to build our strength at home and to support Canadian workers, farmers, businesses, and families”.
Premiers of Canada’s provinces and territories, July 2026. [Council of the Federation]
‘Better when united’ is the approach underscored by Carney.
He stated that he looks forward to “building on that conviction when the First Ministers meet again”. That comes up in two days, when the premiers of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories will meet with Carney in person on July 23 in Charlottetown, PEI where all the premiers are gathered for their Council of the Federation summer meeting.
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