U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariff threats against Canada took center stage in a live televised debate featuring four leading candidates vying to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
On February 24, former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, former Cabinet Minister Karina Gould, and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis participated in a French-language debate as part of the race to lead Canada’s ruling Liberal Party.
Candidates Focus on Trump’s Trade Threats
Throughout the debate, the four frontrunners spent much of their time addressing Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canada, emphasizing the urgent need to push back against the U.S. president’s aggressive trade policies.
Carney, the current frontrunner in the polls, positioned himself as the best candidate to handle trade negotiations with Trump and to navigate Canada-U.S. relations.
"Canada is facing its most serious crisis right now. I know how to handle crises," Carney said. "We must recognize that Trump today is not the same Trump as before. He is now more unilateral, more isolationist, and far more aggressive."
Carney went even further, warning that Trump’s ambitions toward Canada have escalated.
"Before, he wanted a piece of our market. Now, he wants our entire country," Carney said, referring to Trump’s repeated claims that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Freeland: "Trump Is Canada’s Biggest Threat Since WWII"
Freeland, who led Canada’s negotiations on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) during Trump’s first term, recalled that the former president had once declared an "economic war" on Canada.
"Trump is the biggest threat Canada has faced since World War II," she stated. "But this time, his threats are even more serious. He wants to turn Canada into the 51st state."
Trump’s Tariff Threats Loom Over Canada
Immediately after taking office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, citing Canada as a "gateway for illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking into the U.S." However, he delayed the tariffs until March 4 to allow time for negotiations.
It remains unclear whether Canada will reach a deal with the U.S. before the deadline. With 75% of Canada’s exports going to the U.S., analysts warn that the country could plunge into a recession if Washington enforces the tariffs.
The Liberal leadership race continues with an English-language debate on February 25. The party will elect its new leader on March 9, who will then become Canada’s next prime minister, succeeding Trudeau.
(Sources: AFP, Reuters)
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