Episode
Americanswers! Are the US and Canada in an all-out trade war?
- Podcast
- Americast
- Published
- Aug 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1846
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0p639m6
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Summary
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says "we cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked,” after trade negotiations with the US broke down over the weekend. Donald Trump has announced 50% tariffs on Canadian cars and steel — though not until January 1st, leaving four months of negotiating room and a set of midterm elections in between. Can the two countries work out a deal? And why is this round of tariffs different from the previous round that the Supreme Court struck down? And as US national debt passed $40 trillion, roughly doubled since Trump’s first term, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried and failed to intervene in the bond market. What realistic options are left for Donald Trump to intervene? Plus Trump's suggestion that "the ultimate intervention is our military," and whether AI-driven growth is a way out or just another thing crowding out government borrowing. Justin, Anthony and Marianna answer your questions and discuss googlies, sticky wickets and what ‘coming out of left field’ really means. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Marianna Spring, Senior Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email [email protected] • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Alix Pickles and Beth Ashmead. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen,…