A senior trade official in the U.S. administration says Prime Minister Mark Carney’s current strategy to “antagonize” U.S. President Donald Trump is certainly impacting negotiations around the review of the North American free trade deal.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Rick Switzer made the comments on April 22 during a conversation with the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank.
Switzer said Canada and certain other countries have chosen to make their disputes with the United States “personal,” to their detriment.
“I think Carney has made it personal. I think it’s political malpractice for the prime minister of Canada to pit, politically, himself against any president,” he said.
Switzer works under U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who also criticized Canada during his congressional testimony on April 22. Greer said the Canadian and U.S. economic models “don’t fit together very well,” citing Ottawa’s pursuit of greater “globalization” while saying Washington seeks to “correct for the problems of globalization.”
Switzer said Mexico has been working more cooperatively than Canada with the United States to resolve trade issues ahead of the July review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The trade official attributed the discrepancy to the leadership of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, saying she recognizes the importance of the U.S. economic relationship and is willing to work through issues to avoid jeopardizing ties.
Greer visited Mexico earlier this week and met directly with Sheinbaum, while Switzer noted no comparable meeting took place with Carney. During the meeting, the United States and Mexico agreed to launch formal bilateral talks on the CUSMA review at the end of May.
Carney was elected in 2025 running on an “elbows up” slogan of standing up to the United States. In a speech earlier this year in Davos, Switzerland, he delivered thinly-veiled criticism directed at Trump and his policies.
Earlier this week, Carney released a video explaining his approach to trade, in which he said that close ties to the United States have become “weaknesses.” Carney has set the goal to double non-U.S. exports in the next decade amid increased U.S. protectionism.
Switzer said Canada needs to accept the reality that the Canadian and U.S. economies are deeply tied by virtue of geography, and said Ottawa should work through issues with Washington.
“They can’t move shop,” said Switzer. “They can have a weak economy that is underperforming and not doing well, and Carney can feel superior, or they can have an economy that participates with as a part of the U.S. economy.”
Switzer said Canada’s stance is “of course” having an impact on CUSMA negotiations. “You don’t go out of your way to antagonize the leader of the country that you are absolutely existentially tied to,” he said.
After Carney released his April 19 video address on trade diversification, anonymous sources aware of details on trade negotiations leaked information to the media, saying Washington is requesting concessions from Ottawa before resuming trade talks.
Carney was subsequently asked by reporters on April 22 to comment on the issue. He said Canada would not make concessions, and that the United States will not dictate the terms of negotiations.
On April 23, Carney told reporters Canada is ready to go into detailed negotiations, adding “we’re also ready to wait if that’s what has to happen.”
“We understand the Americans have changed their overall trade policy, their orientation, but we need to work together, and we will work together in the context of what’s in the best interest of both countries,” Carney said.
On April 22, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc posted a picture on social media of himself and Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman, saying they spoke about their mission to “establish a new economic and security relationship with the United States.”
Wiseman is set to testify at the House of Commons foreign affairs committee on April 23.
The Epoch Times reached out to LeBlanc’s office for comment but didn’t hear back by press time.
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