Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that his government "never" believed it had secured a trade deal with the US, despite ongoing discussions that eventually led to a breakdown in negotiations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Carney explained that the collapse was due to "an accumulation of issues, each of them serious enough" to prevent a deal. He cited unresolved matters related to the French language and Quebec culture, limitations Washington wanted to impose on Canada's trade agreements with other countries, and terms that could have placed Canada in an "uncompetitive" position, particularly in the automotive sector.

Carney elaborated that any broad restrictions on manufacturing sectors proposed by Washington would have affected numerous countries with which Canada trades or is negotiating, including ASEAN members, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and the Mercosur bloc. He asserted, "Canada is a sovereign state," and emphasized that Ottawa "will strike free trade deals with the countries we wish to strike free trade deals."

Discussing the broader issue, Carney criticized Washington's approach, suggesting it treated Canadian industries as subsidiaries of US industries or as sectors that could be diminished in Canada. He argued that the US auto industry benefits from the collaboration with Canadian and Mexican industries, especially during significant sector changes.

Despite the negotiation breakdown, Carney indicated that opportunities for future talks remain open. He noted, "We never viewed that we had that deal, and it diverged towards the end. At some point, maybe it'll converge again."

In light of the recent by-election results, Carney expressed confidence in his government's support, stating that voters had shown trust by providing "more than 50%" support in every riding. He also highlighted Canada's economic achievements, including job growth outpacing the US, record levels of foreign direct investment, and strong non-US export growth.

Addressing remarks by US officials mocking Canada's military, Carney described such conduct as "beneath their office." He also clarified that Ontario Premier Doug Ford had no influence on the trade discussions, emphasizing that trade decisions are the responsibility of the federal government and Cabinet.