Canada PM Carney says Trump’s trade war will lead to lower trade barriers within Canada

Mark Carney aims to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers in Canada, contrasting his policies with Trump's trade war.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday (April 17, 2025) that eliminating trade barriers within Canada would benefit Canadians far more than U.S. President Donald Trump can ever take away with his trade war, as he made his case to retain power at the last debate ahead of the April 28 vote.

Mr. Carney has set a goal of free trade within the country's 10 provinces and three territories by July 1. Canada has long had interprovincial trade barriers.

"We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away," Mr. Carney said “We can have one economy. This is within our grasp.”

Mr. Carney said Canada’s relationship with the U.S. for the past 40 years has fundamentally changed because of Mr. Trump’s tariffs. If reelected Mr. Carney plans to immediately enter into trade walks with the Trump administration.

Mr. Trump’s trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st State have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers.

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term. He hoped to make the election a referendum on Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.

But Trump attacked, Mr. Trudeau resigned, and Mr. Carney, a two-time central banker, became Liberal party leader and Prime Minister last month after a party leadership race.