Carney says trade deal became untenable when U.S. 'asked too much and offered too little'
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that trade negotiations with the U.S. collapsed because American demands regarding cultural protections and auto industry terms were deemed unacceptable. Carney emphasized that Canada remains united in its refusal to compromise on sovereignty and language protections.
Why it matters
It highlights the diplomatic tensions and economic stakes involved in international trade negotiations between Canada and the United States.
In a departure from his usual diplomatic language, Carney suggested the U.S. sometimes signs trade deals in "pencil," and while Canada's government is united and working together, the same is not true of the Trump administration.
"We cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked," Carney said on Saturday in Ottawa, adding that the United States 'asked too much and offered too little.'
The prime minister revealed that the U.S. had issues with Canada's subsidies for French culture; the prevalence of French-language media online and even the requirement to have bilingual labels on products sold in Canada.
"It was unacceptable right from the start, but the Americans kept trying and trying and we said no," Carney said. "Ultimately it's simple. That was never on the table for Canada and it would not have been acceptable to Canadians."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in