Canada's Carney says Trump must stop comments before bilateral talks can start

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney holds a press conference at Canada House, in London, Britain March 17, 2025. REUTERS

US President Donald Trump must stop making "disrespectful" comments about Canada before the two countries can start serious talks about future ties, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday.

Trump, who is promising potentially crippling tariffs against imports from Canada, frequently muses about making the country the 51st US state.

"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 told reporters in London.

The remarks by Carney are his toughest yet on Trump since launching his political career in January. Carney, who was sworn in last Friday, has yet to speak to Trump and the US president has remained silent about his appointment.

Carney said Canada wanted a more comprehensive discussion and negotiation of the two neighbors' overall commercial and security relationship.

"When the United States is ready to have that conversation, we're more than ready to sit down," he said.

Canada has retaliated with tariffs against tens of billions of dollars' worth of US imports. Carney said Ottawa would only take action it thought could affect US behaviour.

"So this will be very deliberate and there is a limit, full stop. There is a limit to matching these tariffs, dollar for dollar, given the fact that our economy is a tenth the size the United States," he said.