Statement follows:

“The breakdown of the Canada-U.S. trade negotiations was not the news any of us wanted to hear. I know this was a difficult decision for Prime Minister Carney, but I want to be very clear: it was absolutely the right one for our country.

Canada went to the table looking for a fair deal. But there are some things we should never be willing to trade away simply for the sake of reaching an agreement. We will never accept terms that undermine Canadian industry, Canadian workers or our national sovereignty.

These are unjustified tariffs being imposed by the United States, and the unfortunate reality is they will have real and direct impacts on businesses, workers and families here in Prince Edward Island and across Canada.

I want to thank Prime Minister Carney, Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Chief Negotiator Janice Charette and the entire Canadian negotiating team for their leadership and close collaboration with First Ministers throughout these negotiations.

Here at home, our job now is to stand with Island workers, businesses and families, and make sure our province is ready for what comes next. Our government is immediately convening Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Trade Relations to assess what these latest U.S. trade actions mean for Prince Edward Island.

We will review the supports already in place for businesses and workers and make adjustments where they are needed. We will continue to support the industries that are the backbone of our economy, help Island businesses diversify their markets, and pursue strategic investments that strengthen our economy for the long term.

Because our response cannot only be about getting through the days and weeks ahead. It also has to be about building a stronger Island economy for the future.

We cannot control the decisions being made in Washington. But we can control how we respond here at home, and every Islander has a part to play.

When you have the choice, buy local and buy Canadian. Every dollar spent on an Island or Canadian product supports the worker who made it, the farmer who grew it, the fisher who caught it, the producer who processed it and the business that put it on the shelf. Where we spend our hard-earned money matters. Those choices add up.

There is uncertainty ahead, and we should be honest about that. But Islanders know how to meet difficult moments. We pull together. We look out for one another. And when something matters, we stand up for it.

That is what Canada is doing now, and it is what our government will continue to do for our province. We will stand up for our businesses. We will stand up for our workers. And we will make sure Islanders have the support they need in the days ahead.

There will be challenges, but I have every confidence in our province and in the people who call it home. We will get through this, and we will do it together.”