Economist and former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has been elected to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and the country’s next prime minister
His election comes at a pivotal moment in U.S.-Canada relations, as both nations implement historic tariffs and brace for a potential trade war, Variety noted.
Carney secured a commanding victory, winning 85.9 percent of the Liberal Party vote. More than 150,000 members participated in the election, according to The New York Times.
It didn’t take long for Carney to take a veiled jab at President Donald Trump.
“America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” Carney said Sunday in his acceptance speech, referencing Trump’s jibes about making the country America’s 51st state
We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” he added. “So Americans should make no mistake. In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”
Carney’s inauguration is expected to take place as soon as this week. Since he does not currently hold a seat in Parliament, he is likely to call for federal elections shortly after taking office. “Carney spent 13 years as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs in 1990s and 2000s,” Variety reported.
Trump has implemented a range of tariffs on Canada — and Mexico — for their inability to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. But also, Trump has said, in the case of Canada in particular, that many tariffs are actually reciprocal, meaning American duties for certain goods will match what U.S. companies are charged by Canada for imports
The CEO of Canada’s second-largest publicly traded company stated early last month that many in his country support the actions Trump is calling for and criticized Trudeau for not averting the trade war
Canada thrives when it works with America together. Win by helping America win. Trump believes that Canada has not held its side of the bargain,” Tobi Lutke, who co-founded Shopify, wrote on the X platform
