Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney calls for snap election amid trade war with U.S.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a snap election amid a festering trade war and an annexation threat spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carney, who was elected by the Liberal Party earlier this month to replace Justin Trudeau following his resignation, called the election for April 28, saying that he needs a strong mandate in order to deal with tariffs issued by the Trump administration and the threat they pose to Canada’s economy. The election was originally set for Oct. 20.

“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said during a news briefing Sunday.

Carney also requested that Governor General of Canada Mary Simon, the representative of the country’s head of state, King Charles, dissolve Parliament and call for an election, adding that she agreed.

“There is so much more to do to secure Canada,” Carney said. “To invest in Canada, to build Canada, to unite Canada. That’s why I’m asking for a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians.”

Canada’s major parties will now begin campaigning as Carney will go head-to-head with the Conservative Party’s Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois’ Yves-François Blanchet and New Democratic Party’s Jagmeet Singh.

Since becoming president, Trump has threatened sweeping tariffs against Canada, including on dairy and lumber. Trump’s administration imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, rocking financial markets and eliciting $21B in retaliatory tariffs from Canada earlier this month. The E.U. also issued retaliatory tariffs on $28 billion worth of a wide range of U.S. goods, such as boats, motorbikes and alcohol.

Trump has also made comments suggesting that Canada should become America’s 51st state. Carney has rejected the comments, calling them “crazy.”

“We will never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States,” Carney said earlier this month when he was sworn in as prime minister.