Trump: Canada wants to enjoy the benefits of a U.S. state without becoming one - Sarmad
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Canada “wants to get the benefits of a US state without being one,” following the collapse of trade talks between the two countries and Ottawa’s announcement of retaliatory tariffs on $28 billion worth of US goods.
Trump added on Truth Social that Canada has imposed heavy tariffs on US farmers for years, stating, “No more of that.”
The United States and Canada had engaged in intensive negotiations over the past weeks to avoid escalating tariffs between the two nations, before talks broke down on Friday.
The two sides had reached a draft agreement that included reducing tariffs on some Canadian steel and aluminum products to 25%, and lowering tariffs on Canadian cars to 15%. Canada was expected to lift some retaliatory measures imposed last year.
However, negotiations collapsed without a final deal due to disagreements over the proposed terms, and the United States announced it would implement 50% tariffs starting from midnight Friday.
On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would impose new tariffs on $28 billion worth of US goods, which would take effect on September 8.
Carney added during a press conference at Parliament Hill that his government would announce details of the new tariff measures in the coming days, which would come into force on Tuesday, the day after Labor Day (September 7) in Canada.
He clarified that the Canadian tariffs would target several US sectors, including steel, dairy products, household appliances, agricultural equipment, paper, and electronics, with the tariffs matching the new US tariffs “dollar for dollar.”
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the US side objected to reducing tariffs on cars manufactured in Canada from 25% to 15%.
The White House had demanded a series of concessions, including the elimination of Canadian countervailing duties on US cars and the end of the ban in most provinces on the retail sale of US alcoholic beverages, according to Bloomberg.
However, the two sides failed to finalize the agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Canadian side refused to put the finishing touches on the deal.
