U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Canada would be “foolish” to believe it could win a trade war with President Donald Trump, predicting Prime Minister Mark Carney will return to negotiations as U.S. tariffs pressure Ottawa.
Duffy Says Canada Cannot Win Trade War
“To think that they’re going to go to war with Donald Trump and actually win that war with the U.S., I think it’s foolish on their part,” Duffy said Sunday on Fox News. He said Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer want “fairness for the American worker.”
Duffy added that Carney would “come to the table very, very quickly because it’s going to be devastating for his country.”
Washington imposed 50% tariffs Saturday on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods after negotiations collapsed. The duties cover products including wine, dairy, furniture, cement and clothing and, unlike many earlier measures, apply even to qualifying goods under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Trump had briefly paused the tariffs after saying the countries “have a DEAL”.
Carney Vows Dollar-For-Dollar Tariff Retaliation
Carney rejected Washington’s final terms, saying the U.S. “asked too much and offered too little.” He announced that Canada will “match Washington’s new tariffs dollar for dollar” beginning Sept. 8, targeting U.S. steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics.
Carney had earlier warned Canada had a “full range” of responses ready if Trump’s tariffs took effect, while Washington and Ottawa also discussed reductions to auto, steel and aluminum duties.
Reuters said nearly 70% of Canadian exports go to the United States. Meanwhile, Statistics Canada found merchandise exports to the U.S. ended 2025 11.1% below March levels after earlier tariff disruptions.
Trump Escalates Rhetoric As Standoff Deepens
Trump intensified his rhetoric on Sunday, saying Canada wants “the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!” He has also claimed the U.S. does not need Canadian goods, despite Canada accounting for more than 60% of U.S. crude-oil imports.
Carney says his government has committed nearly $25 billion to support workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs while diversifying export markets.
Duffy argued economic pressure will ultimately force Ottawa back to talks. Carney has so far taken the opposite stance, saying Canada “will not allow any nation to determine our future.”
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
