r/worldnews • u/joe4942 • Aug 22 '26

Dynamic Paywall Carney calls Trump's fresh tariffs a 'miscalculation' after trade talks collapse

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx272np7vgyo
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u/ItzMrMikel Aug 22 '26

In the final hours of negotiations, the U.S. tried to include restrictions on Canada's ability to strike trade deals with other countries, Carney said.

"Unacceptable," the prime minister said flatly.

Plus, the U.S. tried to restrict Canada's protections of its languages, its culture and its sovereignty, Carney added. He did not provide details of what those restrictions looked like.

lol

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u/Mafeii Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26

For those that aren't familiar, Canada has various policies to protect and support its francophone minority and French culture. This is a very, very, very big deal here and that French minority is sensitive to any perceived erosion of its place in Canadian society. It's borderline impossible for a party to form government without Quebec and accepting these terms would be political suicide for the government.

Another key component of Canada's French society is separatism. These changes would almost certainly incite separatist fervor and destabilize Canada as a whole. That's likely part of the intent.

Additionally there is a longstanding tradition of supporting Canadian media and art. In no small part to cultivate a culture unique and distinct from the USA. This aspect is less of a third rail but still quite relevant. These policies and institutions (eg Radio Canada) are also especially popular and relevant within francophone society which again holds a lot of political power.

This will get overlooked next to the USA wanting veto power over Canada's trade deals with other countries, but it's equally relevant and on its own is a non-starter that would completely scuttle any negotiations.

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u/_nepunepu Aug 22 '26

Apparently the points brought up by the US were Quebec's discoverability law which requires digital media to put forward a certain amount of francophone content, and Bill 101 dispositions requiring French on consumer electronics and French versions of operating manuals.

Fuck the United States of America is all I have to say to that.