'Will Focus On What We Can Control': Carney Pitches 'Buy Canadian' As Trump Threatens 100% Tariff

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 08:15 IST

Carney said Canada would concentrate on “what we can control,” encouraging Canadians to spend their money at home and support local workers.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney (IMAGE: Reuters)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has responded to fresh trade threats from US President Donald Trump by urging citizens to rally behind domestic businesses, pitching a renewed “Buy Canadian" push as Ottawa braces for possible economic pressure from Washington.

In a video message posted on X, Carney said Canada would concentrate on “what we can control," encouraging Canadians to spend their money at home and support local workers.

The message comes after Trump warned he could impose sweeping 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa deepens trade ties with China.

Carney framed the appeal as both an economic and political choice, saying Canadians were backing homegrown companies at a time when the country’s economy faces “threats from abroad."

He added that the federal government would mirror that approach through its procurement and industrial policies.

Carney pointed to the government’s ‘Buy Canadian’ policy, introduced in December, which prioritises domestic suppliers and aims to strengthen local manufacturing and industry.

He described the initiative as part of a broader plan to “build big," citing housing construction, large-scale infrastructure projects and new military equipment as key pillars of the strategy.

He also signalled a deliberate shift away from dependence on foreign supply chains, stressing that future projects would rely on Canadian steel, aluminium and lumber, as well as Canadian technology and labour.

“We can’t control what other countries do," Carney said, adding that Canada could instead choose to be “its own best customer."

The comments come amid a sharp escalation in rhetoric from Trump, who has repeatedly mocked Canadian leaders by referring to them as “governors" and suggesting, sometimes jokingly and sometimes pointedly, that Canada could become the 51st US state.

While Ottawa has dismissed the remarks, they have taken on greater weight as Trump pursues an aggressive foreign policy stance elsewhere, including renewed pressure over Greenland.

On January 24, Trump explicitly warned that any move by Canada to strike trade deals with China would trigger punitive tariffs.

In a statement, he accused Ottawa of potentially acting as a gateway for Chinese goods into the US market and claimed such a relationship would severely harm Canada’s economy and social fabric.

Trump has also criticised Canada for opposing his proposed ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system linked to Greenland, accusing Ottawa of siding with Beijing instead of Washington.

China remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States, and Carney’s recent visit to Beijing has fuelled speculation about a reset in bilateral ties.

The trip reportedly included discussions on easing tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports, Chinese electric vehicle imports and the prospect of increased Chinese investment.

Carney has previously described China as a more “predictable" and “respectful" partner, underscoring Ottawa’s interest in diversifying its economic relationships even as tensions with the US rise.

News world 'Will Focus On What We Can Control': Carney Pitches 'Buy Canadian' As Trump Threatens 100% Tariff

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