"Carney's Next Move Could Change Everything"

[00:00:00]As many of you know, yesterday the United States announced the intention to in 30 days to launch the latest what is a series of trade actions against against Canada in violation of our agreement Kuzma with the United States and Mexico.

[00:00:18]I want to put this in a bit of perspective then answer a couple questions. The first is that in response to these actions this has began over 18 months ago. Canadians from coast to coast to coast have stood together. The federal government, provincial government, labor, business Canadians themselves uniting focusing on what we can control building strength here at home supporting each other buying Canadian and diversifying partnerships abroad. We've signed more than 20 economic and security partnerships internationally.

[00:00:50]Investment machinery equipment is picking up.

[00:00:53]Economy's picking up. We're growing jobs at twice the rate in the United States with the fastest growth in foreign direct investment, investor confidence in Canada in over two decades, twice the rate of other countries in the G7. We're projected to have the second fastest growth in the G7 not just this year but next year going forward. So the country is stronger. We're stronger because we're united and we will remain united. I will be speaking with the premiers later this afternoon. I'll be meeting with them tomorrow. Minister LeBlanc will convene the Canada US advisory council later this afternoon.

[00:01:32]Earlier this morning and I would say as well that throughout this time we have made a series of uh comprehensive and detailed proposals about how to modernize Kuzma recognizing the transition that the US is underway in the international and all those trade relationships including with Canada and Mexico. Uh, I spoke with uh, Trump, uh, earlier this morning.

[00:01:59]Uh, we agreed to intensify negotiations in the coming weeks, uh, and the team and myself look forward to doing that.

[00:02:05]Uh, as always, Canadians, governments, business, labor will stand together, uh, to build Canada strong and to have a trading relationship with our North American partners that benefits everyone.

[00:02:17]>> Prime Minister, are you considering retaliatory tariffs, dollar for dollar on the US?

[00:02:20]>> We Look, we have a situation where these, uh, the American, uh, tariffs, the steel 238 tariffs, uh, will come into effect in 29 days. Um, uh, and we will look at all options in terms of how we would respond if they do come into effect. Um, that's part of what we'll be discussing, uh, with premiers. Um, also in parallel, as I just said that, uh, I spoke with the president, we agreed, uh, to intensify discussions, we'll begin that, uh, right away, uh, and this is, you know, this is part of a negotiation, so the first objective is to get a comprehensive agreement that benefits, obviously, uh, both countries, uh, that's consistent with uh, CUSMA, uh, CUSMA as it is and CUSMA as it will be, uh, and, uh, we'll work towards that, but in parallel, we, when I say, we will, um, we will do whatever it takes and keep all options, obviously, uh, it's a comprehensive plan.

[00:03:15]>> Prime Minister, were you caught off guard? You recently made concessions in regards to the Gordie Howe bridge, you rolled back the digital services tax, the online streaming act. Are you going to make more concessions in order to get the Americans to the table?

[00:03:26]>> We, uh, well, we're at the table. Uh, we'll be having, uh, those, uh, more intense, uh, discussions. Um, and, you know, what the issue has been, uh, for us has been comprehensive agreement. Uh, we understand, uh, the US approach to strategic sectors, what they call strategic sectors. They are strategic sectors, but under their definition, 232, uh, definitions, that's, uh, aluminum, that's forest products, that's, uh, steel. Uh that's automobiles, pharmaceuticals, copper, others. Uh but those uh first four being the most important for the Canadian economy. And that uh we don't want a partial agreement. We want something that addresses those sectors as well. So that is a viable uh approach going forward in our view uh in the view of uh Madam Scheinbaum uh and the Mexican authorities, uh there are solutions that involve uh Cosma uh so that those sectors are globally competitive to the benefit of workers, of course. We're working for workers in Canada first and foremost, uh but also workers uh across the other two of them.

[00:04:29]>> Should the provinces put booze back on the shelves? Would that help with these negotiations?

[00:04:35]>> Uh it's part of a broader the was the provinces individually took those decisions in response to a series of tariffs that were put in place uh and also threats uh threats to our solvency over that.

[00:04:49]Uh those measures have been supported uh by provincial citizens.

[00:04:55]And they're supported and it's indicative in terms of other consumption habits, if I can put it that way, of Canadians, where Canadians have traveled, uh other things that are on the shelves but aren't uh being purchased.

[00:05:07]The decision to change that first and foremost will be taken by the provinces themselves, each individually, uh and should only be taken in my judgment as part of an overall uh agreement. Uh and that's what we'll work to accomplish.