Carney Says the Pivot From the U.S. Comes at a Cost

Mark Carney, in a national video address as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs take effect: “That pivot will come at a cost. There’s always a cost to action. But it doesn’t come close to the cost of standing still.” Counter-tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 per cent now cover about $27.6 billion in U.S. imports — steel, dairy, appliances, farm equipment, pulp and paper, electronics — matched to the U.S. list that hit nearly $28 billion in Canadian goods at 50 per cent.

“We can’t let American goods into Canada tariff-free while they charge our companies to export them.” Ottawa frames the package as dollar-for-dollar defence after talks were suspended in August. “I don’t believe in escalating the conflict, that’s not constructive.” Existing auto counter-tariffs stay. In-transit U.S. goods on day one are out.

Carney’s Plan A is still Plan A: diversify away from Washington, strike deals elsewhere, build at home. “We have everything we need to pivot and prosper.” The stated aim is a Canada no country can hold hostage. He repeats last spring’s line: America is trying to break us so they can own us — “and I promised that that will never, ever happen.”

Tariffs are taxes at the border. Appliances, electronics and paper are where the household sticker shows up first. Ottawa already put tens of billions toward workers and firms in the trade war. The PM is telling Canadians the bill is real. Standing still, he says, costs more.