A day after President Trump announced a new 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods beginning next month, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada had made “vital progress” toward stopping fentanyl.
“Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries,” Carney wrote on social media late Thursday.
Trump’s new tariff on Canada, which came with a flurry of levies on other countries, is scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. It represents an escalation from the 25 percent he had previously assigned to the country.
The president first targeted America’s northern neighbor in February over claims that Canada was allowing fentanyl and illegal immigration through the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized about 31 pounds of fentanyl on the northern border so far this year.
“If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter,” Trump wrote to Carney on Thursday.
The United States and Canada had initially sought to reach a trade deal by July 21. They are now aiming for an agreement by Aug. 1, the latest date pushed back by Trump’s on again, off again tariff scheme.
Carney became prime minister in March and has so far enjoyed a warmer relationship with Trump than his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
“Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,” Carney wrote on social platform X. “We are strengthening our trading partnerships throughout the world.”
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