Mark Carney is sworn in as Canada's new prime minister as country deals with Trump's trade war

Former central bank governor Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's new Prime Minister on Friday. He will face challenges including dealing with the trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump, the threat of territorial annexation, and the upcoming federal election. Carney, 59, succeeds Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January and remained in office until the Liberal Party elected a new leader.

It is widely expected that Carney will announce an early election in the coming days or weeks. Carney made it clear: "We will never be part of the United States in any form. The United States is not Canada, and we are fundamentally different countries." This statement aims to emphasize the differences between Canada and the United States and respond to related remarks by the US President.

The ruling Liberal Party was originally at risk of losing this year's election, but the economic war launched by Trump and his repeated claims that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States have instead boosted the Liberal Party's support. Now, the Liberal Party and its new leader may be able to turn the tide. Carney stated that he is willing to meet with Trump if he respects Canadian sovereignty, but he currently has no plans to visit Washington and hopes to have a phone conversation with the President as soon as possible.

"The President is a successful businessman and dealmaker, and we are his largest customer in many industries," Carney said. "Customers expect to be respected and to cooperate in an appropriate business manner." Carney served as Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis and in 2013 became the first non-British citizen to head the Bank of England, helping the UK cope with the worst impacts of Brexit. Now, he will work to lead Canada through the trade war launched by Trump.

Carney, a former Goldman Sachs executive, has no political experience, but he has become Canada's 24th Prime Minister. He stated that protecting Canadian workers and their families and promoting economic growth will be his top priorities in the face of unfair trade practices. Carney also plans to visit Europe in the coming days to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, both of whom have extended invitations to him.

"We must diversify our trading partners and strengthen our security in doing so," Carney said. Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products and has threatened to impose a comprehensive tariff on all Canadian products on April 2. He also threatened economic coercion, suggesting that the US-Canada border is just a fictional line. Carney called this idea "too crazy."

The trade war launched by the United States and Trump's remarks about turning Canada into the 51st state of the United States have angered Canadians. At NHL and NBA games, audiences boo to protest the American national anthem. Some have canceled plans to travel to the United States, and many are avoiding buying American goods whenever possible. The rise of Canadian nationalism has boosted the Liberal Party's chances in parliamentary elections, and the Liberal Party's performance in opinion polls is also improving.

The opposition Conservative Party had hoped to focus the election on Trudeau, whose approval ratings had declined due to rising food and housing prices and an influx of immigrants. But after decades of bilateral stability, the vote on Canada's next leader is expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with the United States. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told reporters on Friday: "He will do a great job, he is highly respected internationally." But he added: "There are no magic solutions. This is not a normal situation. We have never seen an American president change his mind every five minutes. This is causing problems everywhere, not just in Canada."

A new cabinet of 13 men and 11 women was sworn in, smaller than Trudeau's 37-member team. François-Philippe Champagne became Canada's new Minister of Finance, the second most powerful position in the government. He previously served as Minister of Industry. Dominic LeBlanc moved from Minister of Finance to Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. Mélanie Joly continues to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Chrystia Freeland, who lost to Carney in the Liberal leadership race, previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and now becomes Minister of Transport and Domestic Trade.

Carney met with cabinet members on Friday afternoon. He strongly hinted that he would repeal an unpopular carbon tax implemented by Trudeau before the end of the day. He called his government the "new Canadian government," seeking to distance himself from Trudeau. Carney also attacked opposition Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, calling him a career politician who is always negative. "Negativity doesn't pay the rent or the mortgage. Negativity doesn't lower grocery prices. Negativity doesn't win trade wars," he said.

Poilievre urged Canadians not to give the Liberal Party a fourth mandate, saying it is still the same Liberal government and Carney is "just like Justin."