Aug 21, 2026 6:12 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has lashed out at the Liberal government during ongoing Canada-U.S. trade talks in Washington, warning that accepting unilateral U.S. tariffs could devastate Canada’s industrial sector.
Speaking to reporters in Kitchener, Ontario, Poilievre strongly criticized the proposed 25 per cent U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. He said that if Canada accepts such discriminatory terms, major Canadian businesses and factories could leave the country, causing long-term damage to the Canadian economy.
Taking aim at Prime Minister Mark Carney, Poilievre said Carney had promised Canadians that he would stand firm against pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and secure a better trade deal for Canada.
However, Poilievre said that if the decisions being made and concessions being offered just hours before Friday midnight’s deadline turn out to be one-sided, it would mean the government had badly failed to protect the interests of Canadian industries.




