BANFF — As President Donald Trump’s trade war intensifies, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet is gathering for two days of closed-door meetings in the mountain resort town of Banff, Alta.

Trump lashed out again Tuesday by signing executive orders to ban certain Canadian imports later this month, including alcohol, motorcycles and dairy products.

The latest tit-for-tat comes after Ottawa levied tens of billions of dollars in counter-tariffs on the United States.

That happened after bilateral trade talks broke down at the eleventh hour and Trump pushed ahead with new duties on Canadian products.

The cabinet retreat comes as the Liberal government plans its agenda for the fall sitting of Parliament, which starts in less than two weeks.

Carney’s office says ministers at the retreat will hear from guest speakers on the economy, Indigenous partnerships and international affairs in closed-door sessions.

Cabinet is expected to hear from Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, Red Deer Mayor Cindy Jefferies and Calgary-based pollster Janet Brown.

Alberta is barrelling toward a separation referendum on Oct. 19. Voters face a choice between remaining part of Canada and holding a decisive new referendum on leaving.

Pollsters Bruce Anderson of Spark Advocacy and Sebastien Dallaire of Leger are on the list to present to ministers, along with Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist who has called for a ban on children accessing social media.

The Liberal government introduced Bill C-34 in June, which would prevent kids under age 16 from creating or accessing social media accounts.

Also attending is Ian Bremmer, a political scientist and head of the Eurasia Group geopolitical consultancy.

His firm this year identified the top current geopolitical risk as President Trump and his efforts to transform American politics.

Bremmer has worked alongside Carney’s wife Diana Fox Carney, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon and Gerry Butts, a former senior aide in Justin Trudeau’s office.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2026.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press