US transport chief warns Canada against confronting Trump
US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy has warned Canada against continuing its confrontation with Donald Trump as verbal tensions between Washington and Ottawa escalate, saying the situation would be “devastating” for Canada.
In sharp remarks, he said Canada “has no army” and added that the idea Ottawa could go to war with Trump and defeat the United States was “stupid.” Duffy also claimed the US provides security for Canada, while Ottawa has taken advantage of that arrangement, in his view.
The US transport secretary went on to say he believed Mark Carney would return to the negotiating table “very, very quickly” because continuing down this path would bring heavy costs for his country.
The comments came a day after Canada’s prime minister said retaliatory tariffs on some US goods, including steel and dairy products, would take effect on 8 September. He said Canada would not accept the American side’s proposals and would not back down from the demands being made.
Referring to economic ties between the two countries, Canada’s prime minister also said a significant share of the energy the US needs comes from Canada. According to him, 99% of US natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports and 60% of crude oil imports depend on Canada.
The US and Canada are among the closest trading partners in North America, and any tensions between the two countries could affect trade, energy and supply chains in the region.
