‘stop Doing Memes’: Carney Urges Us To Drop Theatrics

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney still sees a path to a mutually beneficial trade deal with the U.S. — once Washington stops playing games.

Carney said any deal with the U.S. “must” recognize Canadian sovereignty, which includes respecting the French language and Quebec culture.

“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions — we can have those discussions,” Carney said to reporters on Tuesday.

“But look, it's not constructive, but that's their democracy,” he added.

Negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have stopped completely. Both sides remain far apart after Carney walked away from a deal that he said “asked too much and offered too little.”

Speaking to POLITICO on Monday night, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said “there’s not like a better deal out there available for the Canadians.”

Since talks ended Aug. 21, the U.S. has continuously provoked Canadians.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 27 that renamed Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” The move came after Ontario Premier Doug Ford called Trump a “dictator” and “king of bankruptcies,” while telling the president, through reporters, to “kiss my ass.”

On Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mocked two Canadian cadets, sharing a photo on the social network X of a young cadet receiving a medal from a female instructor. He added a Canadian flag emoji and the caption “(this is real),” which many interpreted as a body-shaming dig.

“It’s beneath their office,” Carney said when asked about the post.

Carney said he walked away from negotiations over two chief concerns: language in the deal that would impact the discoverability of French-language television on U.S. streaming platforms in Canada, and restrictions on Canada’s ability to strike free-trade agreements with other countries. The Trump administration has disputed Canada’s characterization, with the president proclaiming he loves French Canadians.

The fighting isn’t expected to stop.

On Sept. 8, Canada is set to trigger new tariffs in response to Trump’s new 50 percent tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian imports. Canada’s counter-tariffs target 700 products, putting the hardest squeeze on American steel and aluminum.

Greer says the U.S. will hit back when Canada's counter-tariffs kick in.

Canada “could see additional tariffs and you could see import bans or prohibitions similar to the ones that Canada has imposed on us earlier,” he said.

Most provinces have removed U.S. alcohol from their shelves. Some provinces, such as Manitoba, have changed government rules to keep U.S. firms from bidding on provincial contracts.

“If Canada continues to retaliate, the United States, of course, will defend its workers and its producers and all of that,” Greer said.

“The president has many options in front of him in the event that the Canadians continue to retaliate.”

Dasha Burns contributed to this report.