Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the Trump administration on Tuesday, accusing U.S. officials of focusing on social media attacks and political messaging instead of pursuing serious discussions amid an escalating trade dispute between the two countries.
Carney’s comments followed questions about U.S. officials mocking Canada’s military online and President Donald Trump’s executive order directing that Lake Ontario be renamed “Lake America” for federal government use in the United States.
Canada Calls for Serious Trade Discussions
Carney said there remains a positive opportunity for a mutually beneficial trade agreement between Canada and the United States, but emphasized that any deal must respect Canadian sovereignty, including the country’s ability to protect Quebec’s culture and French language.
“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” Carney said.
The Canadian prime minister added that personal attacks against Canada and its institutions were not constructive, saying such comments were beneath the office of senior U.S. officials.
U.S. Officials Escalate Criticism of Canada
Carney’s remarks came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Canada during an interview at the G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville, North Carolina.
Responding to questions about whether the United States and Canada were involved in a tit-for-tat trade war, Bessent said the two countries were not comparable in economic size and argued that Canada had turned trade discussions into a political dispute.
“We’re not at war with Canada. How are we going to be at war with Canada?” Bessent said, while making comments about Canada’s military capabilities.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also faced criticism after posting an image involving Canadian cadets that many social media users interpreted as mocking the appearance of a Canadian military instructor.
Trade Tensions Continue Between U.S. and Canada
The latest dispute follows the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries in late August, increasing tensions between two of the world’s largest trading partners.
The United States imposed 50% tariffs on certain Canadian imports valued at approximately $20 billion on August 22.
Canada responded by announcing tariffs on more than 700 categories of U.S. goods, ranging from 15% to 50%, describing the measures as a dollar-for-dollar response to American duties.
The Canadian tariffs are scheduled to take effect on September 8, adding further pressure to already strained economic relations between the neighboring countries.
