Trump renews ‘51st state’ jab at Canada after retaliatory tariffs announcement

US President Donald Trump responded harshly to Canada's decision to suspend all trade negotiations with Washington, remarking, "Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!", on his social media platform Truth Social.

This was Trump's first direct reaction since Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney instructed his trade negotiation team to return from the United States. The suspension occurred after Canada rejected what Carney deemed as excessive and economically unfavorable demands from the US. Carney stated that the US had introduced terms that would diminish tariff relief for Canadian-made vehicles, limit Ottawa's ability to form trade agreements with other nations, and weaken protections for Canadian language and culture.

"In short, they asked too much, and they offered too little," Carney asserted. Canada had been willing to drop its retaliatory tariffs on US steel, aluminium, and autos if Washington made significant concessions. However, Carney accused the US of using economic integration as a weapon and described its signature as written in pencil.

The breakdown in negotiations came after both sides had expressed optimism about reaching an agreement. Canada has now recalled its negotiators, while the US has implemented 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Ottawa plans to retaliate "dollar for dollar" starting September 8, primarily targeting the US steel and dairy industries.

US Trade Chief Jamie Jamieson Greer explained that Washington had offered to reduce tariffs on Canadian steel, autos, and lumber, but Ottawa rejected the proposal. The latest breakdown has sparked concerns over the future of the North American trade agreement involving the US, Canada, and Mexico. The two nations exchanged approximately $880 billion in goods and services last year, with about 72% of Canada's exports going to the US.

The new US tariffs are anticipated to impact roughly 5% of Canada's shipments to its southern neighbor each year.