Wilbur Ross led trade talks with Canada in Trump’s first term—he says it’s more difficult now because Canadians simply don’t like the U.S. as much

In recent weeks, the relationship between the United States and Canada has deteriorated significantly, with trade talks unraveled and multi-billion-dollar tariffs being imposed on each other. The trade war, led by the Trump administration, has caused a trade volume of $872.3 billion between the two nations in 2025. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the U.S. as asking for too much and offering too little during negotiations, while Trump described Canada as "foolish" for engaging in a trade war.

Wilbur Ross, who served as U.S. Commerce Secretary during Trump's first term, played a key role in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada. Ross observes a shift in Canadian sentiment towards the U.S., noting that Canadians have adopted a negative attitude towards their American neighbors. This shift, he suggests, is due to various factors, including public ridicule of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney by Trump's administration.

Trump's derogatory comments, such as referring to Canada as the "51st state" of the U.S., have only fueled tensions. The issues at hand, such as defense spending, dairy levies, and transshipments, are not new, but the U.S. is unwilling to make substantial concessions. Ross believes the deal offered by the U.S. was surprisingly favorable to Canada, suggesting that any further negotiations would likely come from Canada.

Inflation, partly caused by the Middle East conflict, may prompt a return to negotiations, with Canada potentially being the first to compromise due to its smaller economy compared to the U.S.