What to know
- U.S. President Donald Trump has responded to the collapse of Canada-U.S. trade talks, accusing Canada of wanting the “benefits of being a State, without being one.”
- Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended negotiations Friday night, saying last-minute U.S. demands were “unfair” and “uneconomic” and raised questions about the reliability of a deal.
- New 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on roughly C$28 billion worth of Canadian goods took effect Saturday, with Canada promising dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs beginning Sept. 8.
- Carney says Canada rejected U.S. demands that would have compromised its sovereignty, including restrictions involving future trade agreements and protections for French language and culture.
United States President Donald Trump has hit back at Canada’s decision to suspend trade negotiations, accusing its neighbours up North of wanting to be a U.S. state without being one.
Early Sunday morning, Trump made a brief post to his Truth Social account, his first comments since Prime Minister Mark Carney backed out of a trade deal that he says is “unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.”
In his Truth Social post, Trump accused Canada of charging American farmers “for many years, massive amounts of tariffs.”
“Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!!,” he wrote, “No more!!! President DJT.”
Since taking office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly told reporters his desire to make Canada the 51st state, which led to Canadians forming the “Elbows Up” movement.
As of Saturday morning, President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on approximately $28 billion of Canadian goods have gone into effect, impacting products such as hockey sticks, wine, dairy, alcohol, flowers, and animal byproducts.
In a press briefing in Ottawa on Saturday, Carney said, “We cannot accept what they’ve offered, and we will not give what they’ve asked.”
“It was unacceptable right from the start, but the Americans kept trying and trying and we said no. Ultimately it’s simple. That was never on the table for Canada and it would not have been acceptable to Canadians.”
Carney pledged retaliatory tariffs that would match Trump’s tariffs “dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses.” The tariffs take effect Sept. 8 and target U.S. goods across sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, electronics and agricultural equipment.
Canadians back Carney
Canadians across the country are backing Carney’s decision to fight back against Trump.
The comments under the statement Carney posted to his X account have been overwhelmingly positive. One commenter applauded the Prime Minister for being “the first leader on your continent to close the briefcase and read the room.”
“Prime Minister, for over a year you negotiated in good faith with a White House that reserves its good faith for Pyongyang and Moscow. The love letters go to Kim. The warmth goes to Putin. The tariffs go to you. So when you recalled your negotiators to Ottawa and matched the tariffs dollar for dollar, you were not escalating. You were simply the first leader on your continent to close the briefcase and read the room.”
Another comment from a remorseful American reads, “We are the problem Canada and on behalf of the half of America that believes in reality, we are so very sorry.”
Several other people also agreed that walking away was the best option, with one person writing, “Walking away is the right decision. The U.S. is not a trusted partner anymore, and Trump was never interested in making a deal. If you give in now, you are forever giving in. Canada will stand strong.”
No further negotiations between the U.S. and Canada are currently scheduled.
