![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0425-na-gordie-howe-bridge_302760678-e1781211562922.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEDITORIAL: Words to the wise from Number 9<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he\u2019s working towards a comprehensive trade deal with the United States, but he\u2019s not positive he will get one.<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
Responding to a question from a National Post reporter that Carney seemed optimistic about getting a comprehensive deal at a joint press conference with Canada\u2019s premiers in Charlottetown, after they met in private, Carney said:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou imputed something in what I said, you said my \u2018positivity\u2019 about getting a comprehensive (deal). I didn\u2019t say that. I said that\u2019s what we want, that\u2019s what we\u2019re working towards.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a far cry from Carney\u2019s optimism last year about getting a new deal under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on trade.<\/p>\n
For example, when he said in the House of Commons Oct. 8 under questioning from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre that, \u201cwe have the best deal with the Americans and \u2026 we will get an even better deal because we\u2019re negotiating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now Carney says Canada will consider all options, including counter-tariffs, if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes a 50% tariff on $28-billion worth of Canadian goods \u2014 some CUSMA compliant and thus currently tariff free \u2014 as he has threatened to do on Aug. 19.<\/p>\n
Article content<\/p>\n
Carney imposed, then removed many counter-tariffs on U.S. products last September, although some remain in place in response to U.S. tariffs.<\/p>\n
The joint press conference with Carney at the end of the premiers\u2019 annual summer meeting was meant to project an image of federal-provincial solidarity in the face of Trump\u2019s most recent tariff threats.<\/p>\n
Those tariffs were designed to divide the premiers because, as University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe has explained, they would hit Ontario, B.C., and Quebec much harder than provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said Canada should respond with dollar-for-dollar tariffs against the U.S., a tactic Carney supported when running for the Liberal leadership, but abandoned upon becoming PM as unrealistic.<\/p>\n
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith advocates a more conciliatory approach along with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and have allowed the sale of American alcohol products to continue in their provinces, which Ford and other premiers have refused to do.<\/p>\n
Despite such differences, there was no public sign of disunity among the premiers at the concluding press conference.<\/p>\n
Read More<\/p>\n
![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0722carneytrumpeviansmall-e1784669782205.jpg\")
<\/p>\n