New Canadian PM Mark Carney vows Canada will never join US amid trade war

Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's new prime minister on March 14, 2025, succeeding Justin Trudeau amid escalating tensions with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. In his inaugural speech, Carney firmly rejected any notion of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, labeling such claims as 'crazy,' and emphasized that Canada will 'never, ever' be part of the United States. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding Canadian workers from Trump's economic aggression, including recent tariffs imposed on Canadian goods. Carney expressed readiness to meet with Trump, contingent on respect for Canadian sovereignty, and mentioned plans for his initial foreign visits to Europe. His government will focus on responding to the ongoing trade war, with retaliatory tariffs already in place against U.S. products. Carney's leadership comes at a pivotal time as Canada seeks to navigate these challenges and potentially trigger a general election soon.