Prime Minister Carney gives Canada's account

Aug 22, 2026Moment 4 of 9

Prime Minister Carney gives Canada's account

Moment dated Aug 22, 2026; earliest linked report published Aug 26, 2026.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney gave Canada's account. He would explain, he said, 'why we are walking away from a bad deal'. In his words the United States 'proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair, and undermined the net benefits to Canada'. Canada had offered to drop its counter-tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos if U.S. tariffs fell far enough, he said. It had also offered to encourage provinces to put U.S. alcohol back on their shelves. Carney said the government would build at home and seek more trade abroad, and that some of the biggest payoffs will take time.

Why this matters

A day after suspending the talks, Carney put Canada's reasons on the record. He also said what Canada had been willing to give, an end to its remaining counter-tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos.

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Stated position Statement documented

The Canadian government says the United States changed its terms at the last minute. On August 21, 2026 Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote that he had 'decided to suspend trade negotiations'. The next day he said the United States 'proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair, and undermined the net benefits to Canada'. He says Canada's counter-tariffs answer unjustified U.S. tariffs and protect Canadian workers and industries.

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