Steel tariffs have a way of making the phone lines hum. On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump traded words instead of goods, as the Canada-U.S. trade war pressed on in real time.
Mounting tariffs and diplomatic frost defined the backdrop. With Ottawa and Washington at odds, Carney’s office described the leaders’ call as “productive and wide-ranging”—a term that, in diplomatic circles, can mean anything from friendly banter to a polite standoff. The exchange followed a high-profile visit to Washington by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reinforcing the stakes for both capitals.
Trump’s executive order last month hiked tariffs on Canadian imports up to 35 per cent. The White House justified these measures by citing Canada’s “failure to cooperate” on controlling the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States, coupled with Canada’s retaliatory levies on American goods. For Canadians, the timing couldn’t be worse. Businesses on both sides of the border have scrambled to adapt, while a once-sturdy trade deal remains out of reach. The ripple effects are felt most keenly in local economies where cross-border commerce isn’t just a line on a graph, but a fact of daily life.
Prime Minister Carney, while measured, made no secret of his government’s frustration. In a letter posted to social media, he called the U.S. tariff hike “disappointing” but reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to CUSMA, the continent’s flagship free trade agreement. The statement from his office pointed to “current trade challenges, opportunities, and shared priorities” and hinted at an evolving security partnership. Yet the details remained as guarded as a poker player’s hand.
Outside the corridors of power, uncertainty lingers. Industry leaders and workers alike look for reassurance, scanning for signs that talks may bring relief. The leaders agreed to “reconvene shortly,” but the road back to normal trade flows is anything but straight. For now, both nations appear locked in a patient standoff, each waiting for the other to blink.
References:
Carney holds ‘productive’ call with Trump as U.S. trade war stretches on
