Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday dismissed Canada’s threats in the escalating U.S.–Canada tariff dispute, mocking Ottawa’s military capabilities and questioning whether the standoff can even be called a trade war.
Speaking with CNBC’s Sara Eisen on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, Bessent was asked whether markets should view the latest tariff clashes as a ‘tit-for-tat trade war.’ His response was blunt.
‘Well, I don’t think you can be in a tit-for-tat with someone who’s 13 times larger than you are,’ Bessent said, pointing to the vast economic disparity between the two countries.
When Eisen noted that Canadian officials say they are handling the situation well, Bessent shot back: ‘What else are they going to say?’
The Treasury secretary then took aim at Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing him of turning the dispute into a ‘political shouting match’ and prioritizing Liberal Party interests over Canadians’ well-being.
‘Look, I think this is very unfortunate that Prime Minister Carney has turned this into a political shouting match. I mean, we’re not at war with Canada,’ Bessent said. ‘How are we going to be at war with Canada? What are they going to take their two submarines from the Edmonton Mall and sic them on us?’
The remark, a reference to Canada’s small submarine fleet and a shopping mall in Edmonton, drew laughter and applause online, with conservative commentator Nick Sortor sharing the clip and calling it ‘absolute clowning.’
Bessent also criticized Carney’s political rise, saying he came to power on an ‘anti-American, anti-Trump agenda’ and was ’20 points behind in the poll’ before adopting a tough stance on the U.S.
‘He’s doing what is best for the Liberal Party, what’s best for Mark Carney,’ Bessent said. ‘And in the long run, the Canadian people are going to see through that.’
The Treasury secretary reiterated that the U.S. had offered Canada ‘the best trade deal of any country on the globe,’ but that Carney ‘chose to walk away from it at the last minute.’
The comments come as the two nations remain locked in a tariff standoff that has rattled markets and raised questions about the future of cross-border trade. While Bessent downplayed Canada’s ability to retaliate, Canadian officials have insisted they are prepared to respond to U.S. tariffs with measures of their own.
The G20 meeting in Asheville, which brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from the world’s largest economies, is expected to focus on global economic stability, inflation, and trade tensions.
Bessent’s remarks are likely to further strain relations with Ottawa, which has characterized the U.S. tariffs as unjustified and has signaled it will defend its interests.
Canada’s actual military capabilities include a small navy with four Victoria-class submarines, not two, and the country has been a key U.S. ally in NATO and NORAD. Bessent’s ‘Edmonton Mall’ quip appeared to be a deliberate jab at Canada’s perceived lack of military heft rather than a factual assessment.
Carney’s office has not yet responded to Bessent’s comments.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/scott-bessent-mocks-canadas-threats-during-interview-what/