Trump Must Stop "Disrespectful" Comments Before Talks: Carney

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Monday that US President Donald Trump must cease making "disrespectful" remarks about Canada before serious discussions on future bilateral relations can take place.

Trump, who has threatened significant tariffs on Canadian imports, has also repeatedly suggested making Canada the 51st US state. Carney responded sharply, saying, "We've called out those comments. They're disrespectful, they're not helpful, and they... will have to stop before we sit down and have a conversation about our broader partnership with the United States."

Carney's remarks marked his strongest criticism of Trump since beginning his political career earlier this year. He also revealed that he had not yet spoken to Trump, and the US president had made no comments on Carney’s recent appointment.

Canada, Carney emphasized, seeks a more comprehensive discussion on the countries' commercial and security relationship. "When the United States is ready to have that conversation, we're more than ready to sit down," he said.

In response to US tariffs, Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs on tens of billions of dollars' worth of US goods. Carney clarified that Canada’s actions would be carefully considered and tailored to influence US behavior. However, he also stressed that there was a limit to how far Canada could go in matching tariffs, given the disparity in the size of the two countries’ economies. "There is a limit, full stop," he said, referring to the economic imbalance, with Canada’s economy being only a tenth the size of the United States'.