Brexit bashing former Bank of England boss Mark Carney has launched a brutal attack on Donald Trump, saying the US President wants to make Canada the 51st US state.
Mr Carney, 59, will become Canada’s next PM, replacing Justin Trudeau, after the governing Liberal Party elected him its leader.
And in a tub-tumping victory speech he launched an all-out assault on the White House, effectively declaring economic war on America, calling it a “country we can no longer trust” hellbent on destroying their way of life.
In an eviscerating attack aimed squarely at Mr Trump, he goaded him saying: “Americans should make no mistake. In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”
He added: “The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about it. If they succeed they would destroy our way of life. In America health care is big business. In Canada it is a right. America is a melting pot. Canada is mosaic. America is not Canada. And Canada will never, ever, be a part of America in any way, shape or form.”
His blistering strike will infuriate and anger Mr Trump, who has yet to fully respond, as he questions his nerve in front of the world.
Mr Carney’s war of words bears striking similarities to his Brexit interventions which angered millions in the UK.
In 2013 he became the first non-UK citizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694.
His appointment – made by former Tory Chancellor George Osborne – came after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries.
But despite the bank being independent he waded into Brexit, warning that a yes vote in the 2016 referendum to leave the EU could tip the UK economy into recession.
Separate analysis said choosing to leave the European Union would hit economic growth, stoke inflation and raise unemployment.
Mr Trudeau announced his resignation in January but remains PM until his successor is sworn in in the coming days. Mr Carney won in a landslide, winning 85.9% of Liberal Party votes.
Mr Carney will soon have to decide when to call a general election with a vote taking place no later than October 20.
America slapped 25% tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico for one month amid widespread fears of a broader trade war. But it subsequently rowed back to exempt goods compliant with an existing trade agreement.
Canada – which depends significantly on trade with the US and risks tipping into recession if the trade tariffs threatened by Mr Trump are fully imposed – responded with retaliatory tariffs of its own, accusing the US of benign attempts to tank the country’s economy.
In his victory address Mr Carney said Canada would keep tariffs on US imports “until the Americans show us respect”.
He said: “These are dark days, dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust. We are getting over the shock but let us never forget the lessons. We have to look after ourselves and we have to look out for each other. We need to pull together in the tough days ahead.
“Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, and how we make a living.
“He’s attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won’t.”
