As Trump threatens Canada with 35% tariff, Carney says he’ll defend workers

Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of a 35 per cent tariff, saying he'll continue to defend workers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will continue to defend its workers and businesses in negotiations for a U.S. trade deal with what he calls a “revised deadline of August 1” after President Donald Trump made his latest tariff threat. 

“Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,” Carney wrote in a post on X on Thursday night. “We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of Aug. 1.”

Carney’s post came only a few hours after Trump said a tariff of 35 per cent would be imposed on “Canadian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.”

Trump said the new tariff would take effect Aug. 1.

The president’s letter once again referenced fentanyl allegedly “pouring into” the U.S. from Canada as a primary reason for the increased duties.

However, he also cited previous complaints of trade deficits and Canada’s supply management in the dairy sector.

The U.S. government’s own statistics showing miniscule amounts of fentanyl entering the U.S. from Canada were buttressed earlier this month by a report from New York think tank The Manhattan Institute, which found 99 per cent of the pills and 99 per cent of the powdered form of the drug entering the U.S. in the last decade came from Mexico.

“Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America,” Carney wrote. “We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries.”