EDITORIAL: Now PM says trade deal may not happen

Canada will consider all options, including counter-tariffs

Published Jul 23, 2026  •  Last updated 43 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with Ontario Premier Doug Ford following the final news conference concluding the First Ministers meeting in Charlottetown, PEI on July 23, 2026. Photo by Tim Krochak /Postmedia Network

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Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he’s working towards a comprehensive trade deal with the United States, but he’s not positive he will get one.

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Responding to a question from a National Post reporter that Carney seemed optimistic about getting a comprehensive deal at a joint press conference with Canada’s premiers in Charlottetown, after they met in private, Carney said:

“You imputed something in what I said, you said my ‘positivity’ about getting a comprehensive (deal). I didn’t say that. I said that’s what we want, that’s what we’re working towards.”

That’s a far cry from Carney’s optimism last year about getting a new deal under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on trade.

For example, when he said in the House of Commons Oct. 8 under questioning from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre that, “we have the best deal with the Americans and … we will get an even better deal because we’re negotiating.”

Now Carney says Canada will consider all options, including counter-tariffs, if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes a 50% tariff on $28-billion worth of Canadian goods — some CUSMA compliant and thus currently tariff free — as he has threatened to do on Aug. 19.

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Carney imposed, then removed many counter-tariffs on U.S. products last September, although some remain in place in response to U.S. tariffs.

The joint press conference with Carney at the end of the premiers’ annual summer meeting was meant to project an image of federal-provincial solidarity in the face of Trump’s most recent tariff threats.

Those tariffs were designed to divide the premiers because, as University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe has explained, they would hit Ontario, B.C., and Quebec much harder than provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said Canada should respond with dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the U.S., a tactic Carney supported when running for the Liberal leadership, but abandoned upon becoming PM as unrealistic.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith advocates a more conciliatory approach along with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and have allowed the sale of American alcohol products to continue in their provinces, which Ford and other premiers have refused to do.

Despite such differences, there was no public sign of disunity among the premiers at the concluding press conference.

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