Washington: US President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Canada after trade negotiations between the two neighbors collapsed, accusing Ottawa of seeking the advantages of being a US state without actually becoming one.
Following the breakdown of the proposed trade agreement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform and criticized Canada over its trade policies, particularly tariffs imposed on American farmers.
“Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!” Trump said in his post, adding that Canada had charged the US “massive amounts of tariffs” for years and that it would no longer be accepted.
US-Canada trade deal falls apart
The trade agreement between Washington and Ottawa collapsed this week after the US announced 50 per cent tariffs on around $20 billion worth of Canadian products.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney blamed the failure of negotiations on what he called “last-minute changes” by the US administration. He described the proposed terms as “unfair and uneconomic”, saying Canada could not accept conditions that questioned the reliability of any future agreement.
“We cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked,” Carney said.
Dispute over tariffs, autos and metals
Canada had been seeking tariff relief from Washington on key sectors, including automobiles, steel and aluminium. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration had offered Canada favorable treatment compared with other trading partners.
However, Carney claimed the talks collapsed after the US placed restrictions on Canada's trade agreements with other countries. He also alleged that US negotiators made unacceptable remarks related to French language protections and Quebec's cultural identity.
Political backlash grows
The escalating trade tensions have triggered criticism from Democratic leaders in several US border states, including New York, Minnesota and Washington.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul accused Trump of creating economic uncertainty, saying that the tariff dispute would increase costs for American businesses and consumers.
The latest clash comes as both countries continue discussions over revisions to the North American trade framework, USMCA, which Trump has previously refused to extend in its current form.