Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a stark warning to the United States, stating that the economic bargain no longer holds true. In a speech at the World Economic Forum, Carney emphasized that traditional rules governing global trade are enforced in an asymmetric manner, with those wielding power often using their influence to exempt themselves when it suits them.
Carney's remarks, which were implicitly aimed at America's dominance on the world stage, echoed a landmark essay by Czech dissident Václav Havel from 1978. The essay "The Power of the Powerless" highlights how even those who support a cause may feel pressured into displaying symbols of that cause to avoid potential backlash.
Now, Carney says Canada once proudly displayed its allegiance to the US-led economic order in its window display, but this approach no longer serves it well. Instead, he warns that great powers are now using economic integration as leverage, imposing tariffs, and exploiting vulnerabilities in supply chains to maintain their grip on the global economy.
The Canadian Prime Minister is urging middle powers to "take down" their signs of allegiance, suggesting a shift towards adapting to a new reality where traditional rules are no longer applicable. This stance comes hot on the heels of Carney's March 2025 declaration that Canada would re-evaluate its relationship with the US.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has responded to Carney's comments by posting a fake photograph purporting to show him meeting with Canadian leaders and US officials. The incident adds further fuel to the tensions between the two nations.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also weighed in on the situation, stating that Canada's economy remains heavily reliant on the US, highlighting the stark reality that history is not likely to be rewritten by a single country's actions alone.
Carney's remarks, which were implicitly aimed at America's dominance on the world stage, echoed a landmark essay by Czech dissident Václav Havel from 1978. The essay "The Power of the Powerless" highlights how even those who support a cause may feel pressured into displaying symbols of that cause to avoid potential backlash.
Now, Carney says Canada once proudly displayed its allegiance to the US-led economic order in its window display, but this approach no longer serves it well. Instead, he warns that great powers are now using economic integration as leverage, imposing tariffs, and exploiting vulnerabilities in supply chains to maintain their grip on the global economy.
The Canadian Prime Minister is urging middle powers to "take down" their signs of allegiance, suggesting a shift towards adapting to a new reality where traditional rules are no longer applicable. This stance comes hot on the heels of Carney's March 2025 declaration that Canada would re-evaluate its relationship with the US.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has responded to Carney's comments by posting a fake photograph purporting to show him meeting with Canadian leaders and US officials. The incident adds further fuel to the tensions between the two nations.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also weighed in on the situation, stating that Canada's economy remains heavily reliant on the US, highlighting the stark reality that history is not likely to be rewritten by a single country's actions alone.