Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared his country is "at war" with the United States over escalating trade tariffs, a statement met with a sharp retort from President Trump who accused Ottawa of seeking the advantages of U.S. statehood without adhering to its responsibilities.

The escalating trade dispute intensified Saturday when the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on a range of Canadian goods, including beer, cheese, and electronics. These new duties, which affect an estimated $28 billion in imports, add to existing tariffs on aluminum, lumber, vehicles, and steel.

"We were attacked. You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked," Carney told reporters, vowing retaliation. He asserted that the U.S. was attempting to pressure Canada into an unfavorable trade agreement and aimed to undermine Canadian sovereignty and identity. "This is no longer about a trade deal — it is about a takeover of Canada’s sovereignty and identity," Carney stated, referencing demands that Canada purportedly change its French language and Quebec culture as a condition for tariff reversals.

President Trump responded Sunday on Truth Social, stating, "Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!" He also criticized Canada's long-standing trade practices.

Carney, a former central banker, announced that Canada's retaliatory tariffs would take effect on September 8, matching the U.S. duties "dollar for dollar." The U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that Washington would respond to any retaliatory measures from Canada. Greer stated that Canada has historically benefited from favorable access to the U.S. market and continued to receive preferential treatment under the Trump administration's trade policies.

The conflict stems from the Trump administration's use of Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which allows the president to impose duties of up to 50% on imports from countries deemed to be discriminating against American commerce. The trade dispute could have significant implications for U.S. Senate races in states like Michigan and Maine, which have substantial trade ties with Canada.