Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Canada not to trigger political disputes ahead of upcoming trade talks, while signaling confidence that negotiations would ultimately end on stable terms.
Speaking to CNBC, Bessent said Ottawa should avoid confrontation as discussions on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade framework approach.
Bessent also sharply criticized Europe after the European Union finalized a major trade agreement with India.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Mark Carney:
— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) January 28, 2026
“He rose to power on an anti-American, anti-Trump message, and that's not a great place to be when you're negotiating with an economy that is multiples larger than you are.”
pic.twitter.com/oSXQbPCWEm
He said the deal showed European leaders prioritized commerce over Ukraine, noting Europe’s continued purchase of refined products tied to sanctioned Russian oil.
The EU-India pact aims to expand trade by cutting tariffs on most goods and is expected to deliver billions in savings for European companies.
Bessent said the agreement explained why Europe refused to support higher U.S. tariffs on India last year.
Bessent defended President Donald Trump’s recent tariff increases on South Korea, calling them necessary to push stalled trade commitments forward.
He also rejected claims of U.S. intervention to support the Japanese yen, reiterating Washington’s strong dollar policy.
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TIPP Staff
