New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Conservative opponent have kicked off their election campaigns against the backdrop of a trade war and annexation threats from U.S.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Sunday for a snap election to be held in April, in which Canadian voters will elect either him or his rival in the Conservative Party, saying he wants a strong mandate as the country faces a “significant threat” from President Donald Trump and his administration’s tariff war with Canada.

A snap election has officially been called in Canada, and the results will have major implications for its relationship with the US and much more.

Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney, has called a snap election for April 28 against the backdrop of a deepening trade war with Washington.

It will be the first election in a decade without former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the ballot, and the two major parties in Canada - the Conservatives and the Liberals - are neck-and-neck in the polls,