Poilievre Announces New York Trip to Promote Free Trade, Honour 9/11 Victims

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to workers at Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing Ltd., in Windsor, Ont., on Aug. 24, 2026. The Canadian Press/Dax Melmer

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he is travelling to New York this week to promote free trade between the two nations and also take part in a memorial honouring victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The trip will include a number of meetings with business representatives and investors as well as media appearances, his office said.

“Canada’s biggest asset in the present trade dispute is the goodwill of Americans,” Poilievre said in a Sept. 9 statement.

“We must save Canadians money and jobs, by leveraging the goodwill of the American people for freer trade. Both countries can be safer, richer and more affordable if we trade freely.”

Poilievre emphasized the importance of a close Canada-U.S. alliance, saying, “America’s real rivals and risks are overseas,” and that “working with Canada to confront them is one of the best ways to protect the American people and their livelihoods.”

Poilievre’s office said he will also honour those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, attending a memorial marking the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.

U.S. President Donald Trump had originally announced 50 percent tariffs on $28 billion worth of Canadian products on July 20, stating they were necessary due to “unreasonable and unequal treatment” of American exporters, particularly in the alcohol, automobile and dairy industry.

After granting a three-day extension for imposing the tariffs on Aug. 19, Washington implemented them Aug. 22, with the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer saying talks had broken down because Canada put forth “new demands and walk-backs of other commitments” at the last minute.

Prime Minister Mark Carney blamed Washington for the break down of the talks, saying negotiations failed because “last-minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.”

Canadian counter-tariffs of 15, 25, and 50 percent on the same value of American goods were announced Sept. 8 and went into effect Sept. 8.

On the same day, Trump announced upcoming import bans on certain Canadian-made alcoholic beverages, whey products, and motorcycles, set to go into effect Sept. 29, as well as blocking Canadian companies from certain U.S. government projects.

Poilievre has opposed American tariffs but has also called on the Liberal government to reveal what the terms of the U.S. deal it walked away from were, while also asking for an evaluation of how much the Canadian counter-tariffs will cost Canadians.

The Liberal government has announced a $7.5 billion package to help businesses and individuals affected by the tariffs and counter-tariffs, while saying counter-tariffs are necessary to shield Canadian companies affected by U.S. tariffs from further competition, and to also apply political pressure on the Trump administration to remove its tariffs.

The White House says its tariffs are necessary to “level the playing field” in the face of Canada’s new and existing tariffs on the United States.

Carney travelled to New York May 27 to 28, meeting with business community representatives to attract more investment to Canada.

In remarks delivered May 28 at the Economic Club of New York, Carney urged closer cooperation between the United States and Canada on critical minerals, energy, and automobiles, telling those gathered that “Canada strong will help make America great again.”