Canadian PM: "We Are Not an American Subsidiary... We Won't Pay Any Price"

▲ Prime Minister Mark Carney announces plans to build new icebreakers at the Davie Shipbuilding yard in Levis, Quebec, on the 24th (local time).

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed his firm stance on prioritizing Canada's sovereignty and national interests on the 24th (local time), amid the breakdown of trade negotiations with the United States and additional tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a shipbuilding investment event at the Davie Shipbuilding yard in Levis, Quebec, Prime Minister Carney said, "The goal of the trade negotiations with the United States was always to secure the best possible deal for Canadians, not to pay any price or meet a specific timeframe."

He explained, "We could not accept what the United States presented, nor could we give them what they demanded."

He also stated, "We can never accept the attitude at the negotiating table that Canada is a U.S. subsidiary, that Canadian industries will be disadvantaged compared to U.S. industries, or that Canadian industries will face headwinds over time."

However, he added, "If the United States comes back to the negotiating table with the right attitude toward our industries and a genuine partnership, of course we will return to the negotiating table as well."

Regarding President Trump's announcement that he would raise tariffs on Canadian automobiles, auto parts, and steel to 50 percent starting next year, Prime Minister Carney remarked that it was "not a surprise," evaluating it as "simply executing what we had already confirmed through the conditions they presented."

This was intended to convey that the move was neither sudden nor unexpected, but rather fully anticipated based on the conditions presented by the U.S. side during the negotiations that broke down last week.

He added, "We will not accept it."

Amid escalating trade tensions with the United States, the Canadian government announced a massive investment plan on this day to bolster its economic self-reliance and infrastructure.

Prime Minister Carney announced plans to invest more than 11 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 11 trillion won) to build six new icebreakers.

This marks the largest contract in Quebec's history.

The project aims to replace the Canadian Coast Guard's aging medium and heavy icebreakers, with all six vessels to be built at the Davie Shipbuilding yard in Quebec using domestic materials such as Canadian steel.

This is estimated to create about 5,000 jobs during the construction phase alone and contribute approximately 650 million Canadian dollars annually to the gross domestic product (GDP).

The Canadian government explained that this investment is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy aimed at strengthening Canada's economic independence and Arctic security, while stably maintaining key trade routes and maritime lanes.

Construction of the icebreakers is set to begin in 2027, with the first vessel to be delivered in five years, and the entire fleet scheduled for deployment by 2038.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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