Canada has its own trade irritants with the United States, including American tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday as the deadline for a review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (CUSMA) nears.
Carney’s comments come days after reporting suggested the United States was seeking concessions ahead of a renegotiation of the CUSMA free trade agreement.
“What are our trade irritants? There’s a 50 per cent tariff on aluminum, 50 per cent tariff on steel,” Carney said, adding that American tariffs on Canada’s auto manufacturing industry and forest products sector were also among the “irritants.”
“Those are more than irritants. Those are violations of our trade deal,” Carney added.
He acknowledged, though, that both sides had “trade irritants” that needed to be ironed out.
“There’s two parties in a negotiation. We’re not sitting here taking notes and taking instruction from the United States,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa Thursday.
When asked what specific trade issues the U.S. has raised issues with, Carney pointed to “provincial actions.”
“These are provincial actions, with respect to alcohol on the shelves,” he added.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford doubled down on his ban on American booze.
“I want to be clear: American alcohol will only go back on shelves when the U.S. removes its tariffs,” he said.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on Canada, several Canadian provinces decided to pull millions of dollars of U.S. made alcohol off their shelves in February.
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Currently, all but two provinces – Alberta and Saskatchewan – have bans on the sale of U.S. booze.
The U.S. alcohol industry has raised concerns over falling exports, with data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States showing that U.S. booze exports to Canada fell 70 per cent in December, compared to the same period the year before.
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The U.S. government is taking note of Canada’s booze bans. In a report on foreign trade barriers released last month, the U.S. Trade Representative said the provincial bans were raising “serious concerns” in the Trump administration.
The administration will continue to “press Canada” to remove these bans as CUSMA talks shape up, the USTR report said.
When asked if he would ask Ford to “cool it,” Carney said, “He’s the client (for American alcohol). He’s also the duly elected premier of Ontario. He’s got a majority.”
Some in the U.S. have a “misimpression” of the degree to which Canada was reliant on the U.S., Carney said.
“Yes, it is our biggest trading partner by far. We are also their second biggest trading partner. There is a symbiosis between the two,” he said.
“Canadians get that. I’m not sure everyone south of the border understands that to the extent it is true,” he added.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Carney had said Canada would not make any more trade concessions to get to the table with the U.S. on trade talks.
While heading into a Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Carney was asked by reporters: “would Canada make any more concessions to get to the table with the U.S.?”
Carney said, “No.”
This came as CBC News reported that the Trump administration is demanding what amounts to an “entry fee” – or a series of concessions – from Canada to engage in trade talks toward a revised Canada-United States-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA).
On Thursday, Carney said he didn’t know where talk of an “entry fees” was coming from.
“(It is) certainly not coming from me, It’s not language I’ve ever used and it’s not language I’ve ever heard from the President of the United States,” he added.
Nothing the orange blob south of our border
could have upset my morning more than the
rep for the restaurant industry whining about
the boycott on American liquor.
After loyal Canadians have been boycotting
American booze for over a year, she and hte people she represents are trying to break
that solidarity because——????
She never did give a decent reason, just basically
we want that choice- really?? Canadians have
already made their choice.
The sycophantic look isn’t a great marketing
tool. Quite frankly if I was in a restaurant
that violated the efforts of Canadians
in order to please the odd US tourist – I would
leave that restaurant & use social media to
make sure everyone else knew about it.
Where is Carney? Is he even in Canada right now?
What does he do besides traveling all over the world on our dime all the time?
When was the last time he talked/negotiated anything with Trump?
Trump has an upper hand, we, unfortunately, rely on USA for everything
Carney, he’s a big talker. Resisting the United States is his job, but having assets there is his way of life. If he really resists the United States, he can move all his personal assets back to Canada.I’m just afraid that if we raise our elbows, he’ll immediately put them down himself.Everything is for deceiving the voters, everything is for politics. It’s just acting.A year has passed. How many trade barriers have been broken down in various provinces?Isn’t it still a PPT?Everyone is just discussing.Nothing was accomplished
did you guys hear about the steel plant that just broke ground in Pennsylvania? it will employ 900. tariffs not likely to come off i would say. i guess tariffs are good for something eh. happy for the workers in the rust belt. Brookfield moved there too so good for them they’ll do well im sure not a fan of trump but hey i bet some people in Pennsylvania are, and Brookfield ofcourse they are very happy in their new home.. gooo carney
Carney is a f *ucking gimp who needs to be shot.
@Comservaties are dumb.
No Carney and Trudeau before him are destroying Canada.
I thought Carney was going to build things faster than ever seen before in Canada After an entire year, Carney has got not 1 thing built.
Trump is destroying his country and if you think he is so great, move to the US.
Lies
Where is the big trade deal Carney promised to get by the end of July 2025. Mr Elbows Up has stuck out big time. Nothing has been accomplished in over a year. What a joke.
Yeah, Carney LOVES to lump ALL of EASTERN CANADA’S ISSUES into this being a WHOLE CANADA issue when it ONLY AFFECTS QUEBEC AND ONTARIO so I personally could care less about Trumps tariffs on both these products so CARNEY is working to protect ONLY these two provinces, as usual Liberal government: “Production Concentration: “The Canadian steel industry is heavily concentrated in Ontario and Quebec.”
Funny comments on PP. Carney is the one making huge promises and not delivery. A deflection from Carneys failures so far no doubt.
Annoying PP does have a good point, when you’re devastated in the political field like that, do the honourable thing and step down. Don’t have a by election wasting more money on a completely failing sad little man-boy.
Canada would be much better off having a leader like Trump. Trump is trying to improve USA meanwhile Carnival Carney and the Liberal Clowns are destroying Canada from within.
The only one on here speaking sense is annoying PP, to everyone who responds to comments cracks me up.
Living rent free in the Cons heads.
I love it…….
@Annoying PP-Wow, looks you have PDS. Better get some meds huh? Sure glad there is only one of you.
Trump totally playing Carney like a fiddle. His Elbows Up shtick is getting old.
Yes, like inflation is an irritant to Canadians trying to not starve.
Carney’s “let them eat cake” attitude is exactly what Canadians deserve.
Entry fees ?? Were they discussed w/mexico too Trump? Or u r just targeting Cda? U.S. trade irritants for Cda !!! Trump that’s a give & take as Cda too has them re:US! It’s time you & your minions get serious about trade! U stated Mexico far more advanced then Cda but you’re not going after the same things from Mexico as you are Cda! It’s time you put your big pants on & play with the adults. This isn’t a schoolyard for you to bully! Trump didn’t say a word when Smith went to Maralago to discuss oil w/him did he, he lapped up all the knee bending grovelling. Liquor sales are consumer driven, it’s a prov. purchase not a fed.1. I’m sure it’s not an item on CUSMA so get over it! As far as Cda procuring commodities o/s US, Trump encouraged that action of Cda, then he does a complete 180 & negates that move? Trump is a hypocrite- he & his marionettes should make up their minds as to Trump’s response besides insults! Oh if there was any education In US schools about Cda perhaps these uneducated ppl like Lutnic would be more informed about prov & fed jurisdiction when it comes to procurement of commodities!
@ Annoying PP.
Are you a part of the Alphabet group? Lol
Focus on getting things done, we need plain simple housing, so everyone can afford to buy one, we need industry increased, manufacturing etc. get everyone to work, we need to reduce taxes and the amounts of money being given out to other countries. Canada First.
Canadian exports to US $900 Billion verses US exports to Canada $330 Billion but Carney quoted from this article think’s there is a “misimpression” of the degree to which Canada is reliant on the US ?
Did people really vote for this I d i o t.
PP would have already drained Trumps nuts with his cuntservative sidekicks, if he hadn’t had the biggest lose and most humiliating beating in Canadian political history.
So all you little crybaby cons can lick my Liberal shaft.
You lost and just keep losing. Bahahaha.
No further comments are required, you’ve been dismissed, now be gone.
Carney continues to blame Trump for the problems the Liberals have created.
Hitting back at the belligerent and obstreperous bullies in the Trump trade administration instead of caving to their ever-changing demands is a wise course of action. Thank you PM!
Right-wingers hate global but they flock here like flies to xhit, bringing higher ratings for Corus that I wish I had.
Trudeau had to arrest Meng to close last deal.
Trump still laughing at that one !
USA is a better market than Canada. Maybe Carney should work on making Canada more attractive to investors and those that want to create a business.
Isn’t Japan building an enormous aluminum factory in the USA?
@King.
Carney has been a failure so far. Elbows Up to Bootlicking to now flip flopping daily.
Alberta’s irritant is Carney, Liberals, and Elbows Up Canadians.
Trump is doing to Canada what Liberals have done to Western Canadians for years.
While I’m not his biggest fan, Carney is doing a better job handling the Orange Clownshow down south than Poilievre or Trudeau would.
Looks like we’re not at July 21st, 2025? Who would have thought that Carney could create more financial insecurity for Canadians than Trudeau did? As we swirl faster and faster at the bottom of the economic drain!
“Under Mark Carney, Canada’s posture toward the United States has shifted with surprising speed—less theatrical than Trump’s, but no less consequential. In April 2025, we were promised a renewed economic and security partnership. By the summer, we were told the existing deal was already the best possible outcome. Fast forward to April 2026, and suddenly our reliance on the U.S. is framed as a strategic weakness. All of this, notably, after months without meaningful engagement or negotiation.” Sylvain Charlebois is director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, co-host of The Food Professor Podcast and visiting scholar at McGill University.
Carney has the knack of stating the obvious of course the tariffs are a problem. A problem he promised to work on with all the other tariffs from the US and he has done nothing about them. He also promised to make Canada self reliant and not be dependent on other countries that isn’t happening instead he is going to try and find trade with other countries which will put prices higher because products will have to be shipped further. This man is all talk and no action I wonder how Brookfield will fare in these talks with foreign investors
All Carney does is talk. No action.
He promised to have trade deal in place by the end of July 2025. It is almost May 2026.