PM Carney Urges Citizens To “Build and Buy Canadian” After Trump Tariff Threat
Ottawa : Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on citizens to embrace a “Build Canadian, Buy Canadian” approach as tensions with the United States escalate over trade relations with China.
In a video message shared on social media platform X, Carney emphasized resilience in the face of external pressures without directly naming U.S. President Donald Trump or his recent warnings. “With our economy under threat from abroad, Canadians have made a choice: to focus on what we can control,” he stated. He continued, “We can’t control what other nations do. We can be our own best customer. We’ll buy Canadian food. We’ll build Canada. Together we will build stronger.”
We’re buying Canadian, and we’re building Canadian. pic.twitter.com/JpKhEFKA2P
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 24, 2026
The appeal arrives amid fresh friction triggered by Trump’s threat to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. if Canada advances a trade deal with China. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Ottawa of potentially turning the country into a “Drop Off Port” for Chinese products to bypass American duties. He referred to Carney as “Governor” and warned that closer ties with Beijing would allow China to “eat Canada alive,” devastating its businesses, social structure, and way of life. Trump asserted such a development would prompt immediate 100% tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.
The warning follows Carney’s recent visit to Beijing, where discussions yielded agreements to reduce tariffs on select Canadian agricultural products, apply quotas to Chinese electric vehicle imports, and examine opportunities for greater Chinese investment. Carney has described these engagements as “realistic and respectful,” noting that relations with China have become more “predictable” compared to ongoing strains with Washington. China ranks as Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the U.S.
The “Build Canadian, Buy Canadian” message aligns with an existing federal policy, first introduced in late 2025, that prioritizes domestic suppliers in government procurement, supports local manufacturing, and aims to lessen dependence on foreign supply chains. Carney linked the initiative to broader efforts to “build big” through housing, infrastructure, and defense projects that favor Canadian materials like steel, aluminum, lumber, and technology, along with homegrown labor.
Also read : Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Canada if It Finalizes China Trade Deal
While Carney avoided explicit reference to the tariff threat in his video, his remarks underscore a strategy of economic self-reliance and domestic focus as a buffer against international uncertainties. Government officials have echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of controlling internal policies amid volatile global dynamics.