Mark Carney picks the man who called Trump Tariffs "vandalising" as US-Canada trade minister; experts say this mean that he will ...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his new team members. Carney’s new cabinet includes a mix of familiar names and political rookies to carry out his economic agenda. He has kept the longtime politician François-Philippe Champagne as finance minister and places former Goldman Sachs banker Timothy Hodgson in charge of energy and mining. Canadian Prime Minister's pick for the position of US-Canada trade minister -- Dominic LeBlanc -- is a vocal critic of the US President Donald Trump. Analysts see him as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s answer to the trade war between the two North American neighbours. Carney has appointed New Brunswick lawmaker Dominic LeBlanc as the Canada-US trade minister. In simple terms, LeBlanc’s biggest challenge is no different from his counterparts across the globe, who are dealing with the US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.LeBlanc is the man who had described Trump’s move as "vandalizing" the economic relationship between the US and Canada after the tariffs started to take effect. In response to the US administration's imposition of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, LeBlanc had in April advocated for a strong stance against the US. His solution was to implement reciprocal tariffs on a range of US goods, aiming to protect Canadian industries and assert the country's economic sovereignty.An east-coast politician, LeBlanc rotated through various roles in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet and was especially relied upon to negotiate with political opponents. Following Trump’s reelection in 2024, LeBlanc was elevated to a major role in managing US relations and became Canada’s key interlocutor on tariffs with the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Carney’s decision to keep LeBlanc as Canada-US trade minister is seen as to mean that he will stay on that crucial task.Despite the strain caused by punitive tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, LeBlanc emphasized Canada’s commitment to diplomacy and collaboration, stressing the importance of mutually beneficial outcomes.In a statement to the New York Post, LeBlanc underscored that Canada will stand firm against unfair trade practices but remains focused on fostering economic partnerships globally. “Our number one objective is to eliminate these punitive tariffs and strengthen ties with other countries,” LeBlanc said, highlighting the government’s priority to mitigate the impact of U.S. trade policies.The ongoing dispute stems from the Trump administration’s recent imposition of tariffs, which have strained Canada-U.S. relations, a critical trade partnership. According to 2024 trade data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Canada is the United States’ second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services exceeding $1 trillion annually. LeBlanc’s diplomatic efforts aim to preserve this vital economic relationship while exploring new global trade opportunities to counterbalance the tariffs’ effects.LeBlanc’s outreach reflects Canada’s broader strategy to navigate the complex trade landscape through dialogue and strategic partnerships, ensuring economic stability for Canadians amid rising geopolitical challenges.After the announcement, he posted on Elon Musk-owned Twitter, “Thank you, Prime Minister @MarkJCarney for entrusting me with the role of President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-US Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and One Canadian Economy. I am eager to build Canada Strong together.”