Carney tells Washington to drop 'memes' and get serious on trade

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back against a fresh wave of attacks from Washington, urging the Trump administration to abandon what he called "memes" and "shade" and engage in serious trade negotiations.

Speaking on Tuesday, Carney said talks could resume if the United States showed genuine intent, but he accused Washington of seeking terms that would leave key Canadian industries "gradually wound down in Canada and wiped out." He singled out demands affecting the auto sector, French-language protections, and limits on Canada's future trade agreements as unacceptable for a sovereign state.

The exchange follows the collapse of trade talks on August 21, after which the US imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods. Canada has responded with plans for retaliatory tariffs on US products.

Tensions have been further inflamed by recent US actions, including a proposal to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" and social media posts targeting Canada. A post by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, mocking female Canadian cadets, was defended by the Pentagon on Tuesday. Carney called the post "beneath their office."

Carney's position has been strengthened by the Liberal Party's sweep of three special elections, including a decisive win in Quebec. Political observers note that US annexation threats resonate strongly in Quebec, where the preservation of the French language is a core concern. President Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state.