Mark Carney throws shade at Howard Lutnick, says 'unelected Cabinet members' in the U.S. are not 'experts on Canadian politics'

“I don’t think, with all respect, appointed, unelected Cabinet members in the United States are experts on Canadian politics,” Carney said during a news conference Thursday. “We are always going to stand up for what’s in the best interest of Canada.”

Negotiations between the two countries collapsed in August. Since then, the U.S. has imposed a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Canada will begin retaliatory tariffs next week. The Trump administration has already threatened a 50% tariff on all Canadian cars and car parts starting January 1.

Deal blockades

Despite the back and forth between officials, Carney said Canada is hopeful a deal can be struck with the U.S.

“We’re ready to sit down and strike that deal when the Americans are ready,” he said.

That may be a while, though. Lutnick, on CNBC, said the country had treated Trump “disrespectfully” and predicted once the country’s special elections are over in mid-October, they’ll be much more open to settling the matter with the U.S.

Trump did not seem open to immediate further talks either, in a recent social media post.

“It is very good for Canadian Politicians like Prime Minister Carney to make President Donald J. Trump ‘the enemy,’ until their Economy collapses,” Trump wrote. “Then it will prove to be very bad for Politics — Worse than anything that has ever happened to a Canadian Politician. Just watch!”