Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Mark Carney is sworn in as Canada's new prime minister as country deals with Trump's trade war

News

Mark Carney is sworn in as Canada's new prime minister as country deals with Trump's trade war
News

News

Mark Carney is sworn in as Canada's new prime minister as country deals with Trump's trade war

2025-03-15 06:56 Last Updated At:11:08

TORONTO (AP) — Former central banker Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada’s new prime minister on Friday, and will now try to steer his country through a trade war brought by U.S. President Donald Trump, annexation threats and an expected federal election.

Carney, 59, replaces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remained in power until the Liberal Party elected a new leader. Carney is widely expected to trigger a general election in the coming days or weeks.

More Images
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference following a cabinet swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference following a cabinet swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney, left, and Chrystia Freeland look on ahead of a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney, left, and Chrystia Freeland look on ahead of a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney tours the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney tours the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Mark Carney is sworn in as prime minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Mark Carney is sworn in as prime minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal Leader Mark Carney leaves a caucus meeting in Ottawa, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal Leader Mark Carney leaves a caucus meeting in Ottawa, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney, second right, speaks to steel workers after touring the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette /The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney, second right, speaks to steel workers after touring the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette /The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal leader Mark Carney speaks briefly with media as he makes his way to a caucus meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal leader Mark Carney speaks briefly with media as he makes his way to a caucus meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

“We will never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States. America is not Canada,” Carney said. “We are very fundamentally a different country.”

The governing Liberal Party had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared economic war and repeatedly has said Canada should become the 51st state. Now the party and its new leader could come out on top.

Carney has said he’s ready to meet with Trump if he shows respect for Canadian sovereignty. He said he doesn't plan to visit Washington at the moment but hopes to have a phone call with the president soon.

“The president is a successful businessman and deal maker. We’re his largest client in so many industries,” Carney said. “Clients expect respect and working together in a proper commercial way.”

Carney navigated crises when he was the head of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis, and then in 2013 when he became the first noncitizen to run the Bank of England — helping to manage the worst impacts of Brexit in the U.K.

Carney, a former Goldman Sachs executive with no experience in politics, becomes Canada’s 24th prime minister. He said protecting Canadian workers and their families in the face of unjustified trade actions and growing the economy will be his top priorities.

Carney said he will travel to Europe to visit French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the coming days. He received invitations from both.

“We must diversify our trade partners and strengthen our security in so doing,” Carney said.

Trump put 25% tariffs on Canada’s steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products April 2. He has threatened economic coercion in his annexation threats and suggested the border is a fictional line.

Carney called the idea “crazy.”

The U.S. trade war and Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state have infuriated Canadians, who are booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games. Some are canceling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can.

Carney said he’s worked with Trump before at G7 and G20 summits during Trump’s first presidency.

“We share some experiences. I have been in the private sector. I have worked in the real estate sector. I have done large transactions,” Carney said. “We will both be looking out for our countries but he knows, and I know from long experience, that we can find mutual solutions that win for both.”

The opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, whose popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surge.

But after decades of bilateral stability, the vote on Canada’s next leader now is expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with the U.S.

“He will do very well. He’s respected internationally,” former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien told reporters Friday. But, he added: “There is no magic solution. This is not a normal situation. We’ve never seen someone who changes his mind every five minutes as president of the United States."

A new Cabinet of 13 men and 11 women was sworn in, smaller than Trudeau's 37-member team. François-Philippe Champagne becomes Canada's new finance minister, the government's second most powerful position. Champagne has said a new prime minister offers a chance of a reset with Trump.

Dominic LeBlanc goes from finance to to intergovernmental affairs. Mélanie Joly remains foreign minister. Chrystia Freeland, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister who lost to Carney in the Liberal Party leadership race, becomes minister of transport and internal trade.

Carney met his Cabinet and eliminated a consumer carbon price on his first day, undoing Trudeau’s signature climate policy. He called his government “Canada's new government” in an effort to distance himself from Trudeau.

Carney also took aim at opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a career politician who Carney said is always negative.

“Negativity won't pay the rent or the mortgage. Negativity won't bring down the price of groceries. Negativity won't win a trade war,” he said.

Poilievre urged Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth mandate, saying it's the same Liberal government and that Carney is “just like Justin.”

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference following a cabinet swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference following a cabinet swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney, left, and Chrystia Freeland look on ahead of a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney, left, and Chrystia Freeland look on ahead of a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney tours the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney tours the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney arrives for a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Mark Carney is sworn in as prime minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Mark Carney is sworn in as prime minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal Leader Mark Carney leaves a caucus meeting in Ottawa, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal Leader Mark Carney leaves a caucus meeting in Ottawa, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney, second right, speaks to steel workers after touring the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette /The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister designate Mark Carney, second right, speaks to steel workers after touring the ArcelorMittal Dofasco steel plant in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Nathan Denette /The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal leader Mark Carney speaks briefly with media as he makes his way to a caucus meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Liberal leader Mark Carney speaks briefly with media as he makes his way to a caucus meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

HOUSTON (AP) — Tari Eason scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Houston Rockets to an easy 133-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks Friday night.

Jalen Green added 23 points with nine rebounds, despite sitting the entire fourth quarter to help the Rockets to their fifth straight win, tying their longest such streak of the season.

Houston led by double digits most of the night and was up by 16 in the third quarter before scoring the next seven points, with a 3 from Eason, to make it 80-57 midway through the quarter.

The Rockets were up by 21 later in the third before using a 10-0 run to push the lead to 96-65 near the end of the period, and most of their starters didn't play in the fourth.

Brandon Williams scored 25 points off the bench for the Mavericks as they lost for the seventh time in eight games. Klay Thompson was 2 of 16 for five points with nine rebounds.

Mavericks: Dallas continues to struggle with most of its top players out with injuries and lost another one Friday with coach Jason Kidd saying that Dante Exum sustained a broken left hand that will likely end his season.

Rockets: Houston has taken advantage of a schedule with six straight home games, going 4-0 so far on the homestand as it tries to climb the Western Conference standings.

Houston was in control of the game from the start but put it out of reach with its 37-point third quarter.

The Rockets had 29 second-chance points to just two by Dallas on a night Houston had a 17-6 advantage in offensive rebounds.

Houston hosts Chicago on Saturday night and Dallas hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) controls the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) controls the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) defends against Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) defends against Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Houston, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Recommended Articles
Hot · Posts