NEW YORK, NY (Fox News) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns Canada against breaking economic ties with the United States, calling it a "disaster" and criticizing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent remarks.

Bessent’s Warning

Bessent emphasizes the importance of North-South trade over East-West trade and dismisses Carney’s push for a more independent economic strategy, citing past failures.

Carney’s Response

Carney pushes back against President Trump’s tariff threats and clarifies that Canada’s recent deal with China does not constitute a free trade agreement. He advocates for middle countries to have a greater say in the global economic order.

Controversy and Backtracking

Bessent claims Carney walked back some comments during a meeting with Trump, but there has been no public confirmation. Carney’s remarks are seen as a critique of Washington’s trade policies.

Caption: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addresses the media in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 2025.

Caption: Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2026.

Taylor Penley, an associate editor with Fox News, contributed to this report.