Canada's Carney says US needs to start being serious before trade talks can resume

“Stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough,” Prime Minister Mark Carney says as Canada holds off on renewed US trade talks.

A file photo of Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaking with the news media after he suspended trade negotiations with the United States, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, August 22, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Chris Tanouye/File Photo)

02 Sep 2026 12:24AM

(Updated: 02 Sep 2026 07:05AM)

OTTAWA: The US needs to start being serious and stop trying to be tough before talks on a possible trade deal with Canada can restart, Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Tuesday (Sep 1).Canada walked away from negotiations on an agreement to avoid additional US tariffs on Aug 21, saying the American side had made unacceptable last-minute demands.Since then, US President Donald Trump has declared that Lake Ontario should be renamed Lake America, described Canada's leaders as "the worst" he has to deal with, and repeated assertions that Canada is ripping off the US.He also posted an AI-generated meme showing Canadian geese with Trump's distinctive hairstyle marching under a US flag.