WASHINGTON (April 3, 2025) –WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) called on Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to completely remove Canada’s tariffs on American goods in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor. Kennedy noted that Carney has said he supports free and fair trade and argued that he should drop all tariffs to let American and Canadian companies compete on a level playing field.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“I remember after Hurricane Katrina, which hit my state. It destroyed southeast Louisiana—New Orleans, yes, but many other parts of my state as well—and Mississippi. Canada was the very first country and the people of Canada were the very first people to send disaster relief.”
. . .
“Here’s my point: I don’t want to be at war with Canada. I don’t want to have a trade war with Canada. I want us to continue to be friends. I made this suggestion to the new prime minister of Canada the other day, Prime Minister Carney. I am going to make it again, and I hope, this time, he will take it more seriously. Remember, if you want to be taken seriously, you have to act seriously. If you want respect, you have to act respectfully.
“Prime Minister Carney, you say that President Trump is not a fair trader. I understand your point of view. I don’t agree with you, but I understand your point of view. You have got to stand up for your people.
“Prime Minister Carney, if you believe in free trade, then here is what you do. Make this offer today: Offer to go to zero tariffs in Canada on American goods—no tariffs, none, zero, zilch, nada—and challenge America to remove all of our tariffs on Canada so the people of Canada can sell their goods to Americans without a tariff, and the people of America can sell their goods to our friends in Canada without a tariff—zero tariffs. Let Canadian businesses and American businesses compete.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
