United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that there is no conflict between the United States and Canada. He humorously downplayed Canada’s potential threat by joking about the idea of Canada using “submarines from the Edmonton mall” against his country. Bessent also attributed the ongoing tensions between the two nations to Prime Minister Mark Carney, suggesting that perpetuating the dispute benefits his popularity ratings.
During an interview with CNBC on Monday, Bessent dismissed the notion of a trade war with Canada, highlighting the significant difference in size between the two countries. Referring to Canada’s hypothetical use of submarines for attack, he quipped, “How are we going to be at war with Canada? What, are they going to take their two submarines from the Edmonton mall and sic them on us?”
The mention of Edmonton’s submarines as a threat is impractical today. The recreational submarines at West Edmonton Mall, which provided tours through an indoor lake, ceased operation in 2005 and were dismantled for scrap in 2012. Despite this, the verbal sparring between the Trump administration and Canada intensified following the breakdown of a trade agreement between the two nations.
After withdrawing Canada’s negotiating team due to last-minute changes introduced by the U.S., Prime Minister Carney criticized the unfair terms that would restrict Canada’s trade flexibility and impact various sectors, including the auto industry. Subsequently, the U.S. imposed tariffs on a significant portion of Canadian exports, prompting Canada to reciprocate with matching tariffs starting September 8.
Secretary Bessent accused Prime Minister Carney of escalating the dispute for political gain rather than prioritizing the interests of the Canadian people. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scheduled to meet with Bessent and other G20 counterparts in North Carolina to reinforce Canada’s commitment as a dependable trading partner amid global uncertainties.
Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith warned about the detrimental effects of the ongoing trade conflict, emphasizing that both countries will suffer from the tariff war. She stressed the importance of resuming negotiations to mitigate the adverse impact on small businesses and employment in both nations. Smith expressed confusion and disappointment over the strained relationship with the U.S., emphasizing the mutual benefits of a strong Canada-U.S. alliance.
