ClaimOttawa
Ottawa is also in no hurry: it didn't ask for the crisis and isn't rushing to end it. It took a go-slow approach to the talks before July 2026, and walked away from the tentative deal announced on August 18, 2026, three days later.
The evidence it rests on
Supports (2)
- Carney walks away from the tentative deal after late US demands on autos, culture and Canada's other trade deals
Carney walked away from the tentative deal on 21-22 August 2026, three days after it was announced, accepting the 50% tariffs rather than the late US terms.
Documented by: Radio-Canada International (CBC News), “Carney says trade deal became untenable when U.S. 'asked too much and offered too little'” (external site), . and 1 more
- Carney's Saturday news conference: the US "asked too much and offered too little"; Canada would never give the US "exclusive access" to critical minerals
Refused exclusive minerals access.
Documented by: Radio-Canada International (CBC News), “Carney says trade deal became untenable when U.S. 'asked too much and offered too little'” (external site), . and 4 more
Complicates (2)
- Canada rescinds its digital services tax and halts the 30 June collection "to advance broader trade negotiations with the United States"
Ottawa gave up the digital services tax within two days of Trump cutting off talks, to get negotiations restarted: a quick concession, not a go-slow approach.
Documented by: Department of Finance Canada, “Canada rescinds digital services tax to advance broader trade negotiations with the United States” (external site), . and 1 more
- Canada removes most of its counter-tariffs on US goods: the full Phase 1 list (about C$30.3B of annual imports) and the non-steel, non-aluminum goods (about C$14.4B)
Counter-tariffs removed, a concession.
Documented by: Liberal Party of Canada, “Liberal Party of Canada 2025 platform, 'Canada Strong' (66-page PDF)” (external site), . and 4 more
Context (1)
- Poilievre: 'I don't understand the strategy of making concession after concession after concession before even getting to the negotiating table'
Opposition claim of repeated concessions (statement).
Documented by: Yahoo News Canada (National Post), “Poilievre says Carney needs to deliver 'results that he promised' in U.S. trade talks” (external site), .
Claims are weighed by the evidence under them, actions first. Method.