Carney says Canada seeks stable, credible trade agreement with US

OTTAWA, Canada: Canada is prepared to reach a trade agreement with the United States when Washington is ready, Prime Minister Mark Carney said September 4, stressing that any deal would need to benefit both countries and provide stability and credibility. "The deal that's possible, that's in the interests of Canadian workers, families and businesses, is also the deal that is in the interests of American families, American businesses, American consumers, and ... we're ready to sit down and strike that deal when the Americans are ready," Carney told reporters in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Carney also rejected recent comments from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that Canada had walked away from a trade agreement because of domestic politics. "I don't think, with all respect, appointed, unelected cabinet members in the United States are experts on Canadian politics," Carney said in response to a question. The prime minister suggested there had recently been a softening in the U.S. approach to a potential trade agreement that could lead to further discussions. "There were a few issues that the United States was arguing right up to the last hour," Carney said, describing the U.S. position before negotiations broke down last month as an "our way or the highway" attitude. "Now, they're not," he said. "So all of a sudden, they don't care about Canadian language or culture and those elements. Well, if they didn't care, they shouldn't have kept them in the deal," Carney said. "It's good. We welcome that." Shortly after Carney's remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that it was "very good for Canadian Politicians like Prime Minister Mark Carney to make President Donald J. Trump 'the enemy.'" Trump warned that Canada's economy would then collapse and be "Worse than anything that has ever happened to a Canadian politician."