"Even if a 50% tariff is imposed, talks will continue" ... Trump and Carney speak directly by phone
- Input
- 2026-07-22 06:56:30
- Updated
- 2026-07-22 06:56:30

[Financial News] Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would continue trade talks despite U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of an additional 50% tariff. The two leaders spoke directly by phone and agreed to step up negotiations over the next few weeks.
Carney told reporters in Ottawa on the 21st local time, "I spoke with President Trump this morning," adding, "We agreed to intensify negotiations over the next few weeks, and we are looking forward to that."
He criticized the move as "the latest action that directly violates the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)," but stressed that "our top priority is to reach a comprehensive agreement that benefits both countries."
He also left open the possibility of retaliation if the U.S. tariffs take effect, saying, "We will consider all options."
Earlier, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing an additional 50% tariff on some Canadian products under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The targets include wine, hockey sticks and cement, and the measure will take effect in 30 days.
The Trump administration said the move was a response to Canada's discriminatory treatment of U.S. products.
After a summit with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at The White House, Trump told reporters that the tariff was unrelated to smoke from Canadian wildfires, calling it "a separate issue."
He said, "We are looking into that separately," but added, "Canada needs the United States to survive. It has no way to live without us." He went on to say, "But Canada has treated the United States very harshly for more than the past 50 years," again defending the additional tariff.
Trump had previously warned that he could impose additional tariffs on Canada, saying smoke from Canadian wildfires had worsened air quality in the eastern United States. He later reaffirmed that this latest measure is unrelated to the wildfires and is instead a response to trade issues.
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