Carney: Trump Controls Trade Fate Despite Democratic Midterm Sweep
Prime Minister Mark Carney insists the White House remains the sole decision-maker on a Canada-US deal, even as new Democratic leaders pledge to repeal tariffs.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Tuesday that President Donald Trump will retain sole authority over trade agreements for the next two to three years, despite the Democratic Party’s dominant performance in the U.S. midterm elections held last week.
Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Carney emphasized that the executive branch, not the legislature, holds the power to strike deals. He stated, “What is clear is that the people who decide on trade agreements are the executive in the United States over the next two or three years. The President, the executive and Americans, not necessarily legislators.”
This stance positions Canada to continue negotiating directly with the White House while Democratic lawmakers prepare to challenge existing tariffs. Carney noted that having a single negotiator is essential, assigning that responsibility to the government. His comments followed Quebec’s plan to contact U.S. governors and senators, a move the Prime Minister said does not change the primary channel for trade discussions.
Canada now faces a strategic choice between accepting a partial deal that reduces but does not eliminate Trump’s tariffs or waiting for Congress to act. Carney confirmed he spoke with Trump over the weekend and may meet him at upcoming summits, though he described in-person meetings as helpful rather than mandatory. He acknowledged that tough issues remain unresolved, despite Canada overcoming previous disputes over French-language protections and cultural programming that had stalled talks in August.
The trade relationship has been strained since August, when Canada suspended negotiations after what Carney called unacceptable U.S. demands regarding sovereignty. In response, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian goods, triggering Canadian retaliation. While Trump claimed before the midterms that the countries were “very close” to an agreement, Carney noted that Washington had previously backed away from certain cultural and negotiation demands.
Carney welcomed Friday’s Democratic efforts to repeal tariffs but did not confirm a shift in Canada’s strategy. Senator Ron Wyden has prioritized the repeal of Canadian tariffs, yet Trump retains the power to veto any legislation. The Prime Minister has become a vocal critic of U.S. economic policy since warning in January that great powers are weaponizing trade ties. He recently accused Stellantis of betraying Canadian workers after the automaker agreed to sell its Brampton, Ontario plant to Roshel, moving Jeep Compass production to Illinois under Trump’s pressure to shift manufacturing stateside.
Looking ahead, Carney will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week at the APEC summit in Shenzhen. He argued that Canada’s economic ties with China pose fewer security risks than the United States’ more complex relationship with Beijing.
