Carney won’t say if Canadian energy sector will be a trade bargaining chip

Prime Minister Mark Carney has sidestepped questions about whether Canada will leverage its energy sector in upcoming trade negotiations with the United States. As steep 50% tariffs loom for certain Canadian imports starting August 19, reporters pressed Carney on the potential use of energy as a bargaining chip.

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We’re engaged in those negotiations to find a mutually beneficial solution. We’re only going to accept a solution that works for Canadians. We have lots of options of what we would do if that’s not there, both positive in terms.

During a press conference, Carney stated he would not speculate on specific measures. "We're engaged in those negotiations to find a mutually beneficial solution. We're only going to accept a solution that works for Canadians," he said, adding that Canada has "lots of options" if an agreement isn't reached. He emphasized a focus on building towards an agreement if possible, noting that "Everybody wants to do more with Canada, except the United States."

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But I’m not going to be drawn on what we’re going to do.

The U.S. tariffs are described as a response to "retaliatory and discriminatory measures" by Canada, according to the White House. Industries such as automotive, dairy, and alcoholic beverages are expected to be affected. Earlier, on July 21, Carney had indicated that Canada was "looking at all options" to counter the tariff threat and had agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to intensify discussions.

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we’re going to focus now on building towards an agreement if an agreement is possible