By Thomas Seal

(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Mark Carney stated Canada will have a look at whether or not to take away some counter-tariffs in opposition to the U.S., regardless of profitable an election through which he pledged to battle again in opposition to President Donald Trump’s commerce battle.

Carney stated retaliatory tariffs ought to be designed to maximise the affect on the U.S. however decrease the ache for Canadian companies. When the U.S. adjustments its tariff charge, “we don’t robotically modify. We have a look at what we are able to do for our trade that’s handiest,” he stated in West Kelowna, British Columbia.

“In some circumstances, that will likely be to take away tariffs. We have now eliminated some tariffs over time in order that, for instance, the auto trade can perform extra successfully. And we’ll have a look at alternatives to take action.”

The feedback underscore a politically awkward place for Carney as he seeks to reduce financial injury whereas additionally standing agency in opposition to Trump. The U.S. president has imposed a broadside of tariffs and infuriated many Canadians by saying their nation ought to be a 51st U.S. state. Polls present there’s robust urge for food among the many Canadian public for a hardball method to the commerce talks.

However some economists, companies and provincial premiers have warned in opposition to escalation with the U.S. And Carney has tried to melt the blow of Canada’s counter-tariffs, which apply to tens of billions of {dollars} value of U.S. merchandise, by creating exemptions.

To assist the auto sector, in April Carney supplied tariff aid to carmakers — in the event that they make investments and maintain manufacturing in Canada. In June, he stated the federal government would modify its present counter-tariffs on metal and aluminum based mostly on discussions with the US. However the US has since raised some tariffs, however Canada has not retaliated.

Carney narrowly received an election in April touting slogans like “Canada Robust” and “Elbows Up,” the latter phrase meant to evoke heading off belligerent opponents within the nationwide sport of hockey.

Carney’s foremost political opponent, Conservative Get together Chief Pierre Poilievre, mocked the phrase by saying the prime minister’s tenure was extra a case of “elbows down and tariffs up.”

‘They’re an Irritant’

If Canadians anticipated different nations to comply with swimsuit in retaliation, the months since have proved disappointing. Though the European Union and Mexico have threatened measures in opposition to the US, they’ve held off, leaving Canada and China as the one nations to punch again with their very own sizable counter-tariffs.

The White Home cited Canada’s retaliation as a part of the justification for growing headline tariffs to 35% from 25% on some Canadian merchandise final week. The vast majority of items, nonetheless, stay exempt, lined by the US-Mexico-Canada commerce deal Trump signed throughout his first time period in workplace.

Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, informed the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that Trump’s coverage is “tariffs for each single nation on the earth.” Canada would possible must take away its counter-tariffs as a part of any commerce truce, the diplomat stated. “They’re an irritant proper now.”

Final month, British Columbia Premier David Eby informed Bloomberg he didn’t suppose further counter-tariffs would change Trump’s thoughts, however may nonetheless inflict hurt on his province. That’s as a result of it’s troublesome for BC companies to interchange American metal and aluminum by paying to ship the heavy commodities from Canadian smelters within the east, hundreds of miles away by rail.

Nonetheless, Canadian voters nonetheless favor a “hardball” response, refusing concessions, based on polling by Angus Reid launched Friday.

–With help from Melissa Shin.

(Updates with feedback from Conservative Get together chief and US ambassador, starting within the eighth paragraph.)

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Final modified: August 6, 2025