Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has developed a reputation for delivering the Trump administration’s message with an unusually eloquent, and frequently sarcastic, edge, and Canada was the latest target. 

In a CNBC interview Monday, Bessent laughed off the idea that Ottawa could meaningfully pressure the United States as the two countries escalate their trade war. The exchange came just a week after Washington and Ottawa imposed 50 percent tariffs on one another following failed negotiations to come to a trade agreement the Trump administration found satisfactory.

Bessent argued that Canada cannot realistically go “tit for tat” with an economy roughly 13 times larger, dismissing the idea that Ottawa could pose any serious threat to the United States. "What, are they going to take their two submarines from the Edmonton Mall and sick them on us?" Bessent joked.

"Are you meeting with your Canadian counterpart here?" CNBC's Sara Eisen asked.

"I am."

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"Because, I guess, markets are wondering if we're now in a tit-for-tat trade war with Canada," she said.

"Well, I don't think you can be in a tit-for-tat with someone who's 13 times larger than you are," Bessent replied. "They say they're doing okay. What else are they going to say? Look, I think this is very unfortunate that Prime Minister Carney has turned this into a political shouting match."

"I mean, we're not at war with Canada. How are we going to be at war with Canada? What, are they going to take their two submarines from the Edmonton Mall and sick them on us?" Bessent asked. "He came to power on an anti-American, anti-Trump agenda. He was 20 points behind in the polls. And then he started this. And it's unfortunate that he's not doing what's best for the Canadian people. He's doing what is best for the Liberal Party, what's best for Mark Carney. And in the long run, the Canadian people are going to see through that."

The exchange came less than a week after Canada vowed to impose retaliatory tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of U.S. goods, matching the Trump administration’s new 50 percent tariffs on about the same value of Canadian imports after trade negotiations collapsed. Canada’s counter-tariffs, ranging from 15 to 50 percent, are scheduled to take effect on September 8.