Canadian PM Carney Defends Trade Stance After Trump Calls Canada 'Nasty'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday defended his government's tough negotiating stance on a key trade pact, framing it as a defense of domestic workers after U.S. President Donald Trump described Canada as "nasty."

Diplomatic Tensions Rise

Speaking to reporters in Saguenay, Quebec, Carney addressed comments made by President Trump during a speech in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Trump stated that "Canada is nasty" and referred to the country’s "nasty leadership," according to a report from Reuters.

In response, Carney reframed the tense negotiations as a matter of national economic interest. "Yes, it’s a tough negotiation. You can change the adjective and say ’nasty’ but for Canada it’s a question of Canadian jobs, it’s a question of the future of Canadian enterprises," Carney said.

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High-Stakes Trade Talks

The verbal exchange comes as Canadian and U.S. negotiators hold detailed talks in Washington to review the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade pact. Relations between the two leaders have been strained since Trump returned to the White House last year, imposing broad tariffs on Canadian goods.

According to the report, the two sides remain far apart on key issues. President Trump is reportedly threatening to impose more tariffs on Canadian imports as soon as next week unless Ottawa agrees to a number of concessions. Prime Minister Carney has stated his preference for a comprehensive deal rather than a partial one.