Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that Canada can afford to wait for a new U.S. president rather than accept a trade agreement that doesn’t serve Canadian interests.
His posture comes as negotiators weigh a limited tariff deal focused on Section 232 duties, including levies as high as 50% on Canadian steel and 25% on autos.
Carney, during an interview with Politico, framed waiting out the current U.S. leadership as a practical option rather than a bluff, saying Canada can choose patience if that’s what produces better terms.
He said he is prepared to delay until Washington offers an arrangement that works for Canada.
Canada’s Trade Strategy: Waiting For Change
In the Section 232 talks, U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick has been leading the talks.
Lutnick has kept in frequent touch with Canada’s trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, as officials explore whether narrow relief is possible ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. A Canadian industry source said any near-term outcome could arrive fast but would probably cover only a slice of the dispute, if it happens at all.
Carney’s stance also leans on the idea that the best baseline may already exist, since he argued the current U.S.-Canada framework is the most beneficial for both sides, even under Washington’s newer, tougher posture. As reported by Politico, Carney also signaled Canada won’t trade away core interests simply to close a deal.
He underscored that point with a personal detail, saying he has not worn dress shirts given to him by President Donald Trump after negotiations broke down in August because there is still no agreement he views as mutually beneficial. Carney also said, “We have agency. We have options,” when describing how Ottawa should respond to U.S. pressure.
‘They’re Willing to Give Us Anything,’ Says Trump
Trump has also mixed exemptions with new additions, exempting some Canadian imports from 50% duties on Friday, including plywood, paper products, machinery, refrigeration equipment, packing materials and seaweed.
At the same time, other Canadian goods were added to a 50% tariff list, spanning items such as carpets, shampoos, air conditioners, coffins, canoes and archery equipment.
Around the same time, Trump told a rally in Michigan that the dispute would be wrapped up soon and claimed Canada was ready to offer broad concessions. Trump said, “They’re willing to give us anything at this moment,” and he has separately said he expects Canada to push for a resolution within three to four weeks.
Outside the negotiating room, companies are positioning around the policy churn. Bombardier Inc. (OTC:BDRBF) said it plans to invest $270 million in the U.S. with job creation across Texas, Indiana and Connecticut, and it also outlined a $50 million investment in Wichita, Kansas, for a North American Learning Center.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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