PM Carney: Canada Has Many Options If the US Applies Additional Tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney/DOK World Economic Forum

JAKARTA - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Caney said his government has various options if the United States is serious about its threat to impose an additional 50 percent tariff.

Carney said he was ready to do whatever needed to be done to defend the interests of Canadians in the midst of a trade war with the United States.

Carney said this after the United States threatened to impose an additional 50 percent tariff on Canada starting August 19, over allegations of alleged discriminatory treatment by Canada of US-made products.

"In terms of doing whatever is necessary, there are various aspects to it. One of them is responding if tariffs or other measures are imposed and there are various steps we can take in that regard," Carney said at a joint press conference with the 13 heads of provincial and territorial levels of Canada. reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Friday, July 24.

Although Canada could provide an immediate response to the threat of tariffs, Carney added that it would not be done because it would be counterproductive to trade negotiations with America.

However, Carney said all provincial and territorial heads of government in Canada had reached an understanding on the direction, goals, and level of seriousness of the government's response to the threat.

Regarding his efforts to convince the public that Canada and the United States would abide by any agreement reached, Carney said all parties must be convinced of the value of the agreement.

"I believe, we all must be convinced, the Canadian team must be convinced, the provincial leaders must also be convinced that an agreement is really worth the paper it is written on," said Carney.

Carney reiterated that Canada was indeed intensifying talks with the United States to reach a comprehensive agreement that includes all sectors related to tariffs.