President Trump claims Canada wants US state benefits without the obligations after 50% tariffs took effect, with trade talks now broken down.
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President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Canada on Sunday, posting on Truth Social that Canada "wants the benefits of being a State, without being one," while defending new 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods that took effect this weekend. The post follows the breakdown of trade negotiations between the two countries and marks a significant intensification of the economic dispute.
The new 50 percent US tariffs on a range of Canadian goods took effect this weekend, prompting immediate retaliatory measures from Ottawa. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer revealed in a Saturday interview with The New York Times that American officials had offered concessions before the tariffs were implemented, though these negotiations ultimately failed to resolve the dispute.
Trump's statement specifically targeted Canadian agricultural policy, claiming that US farmers have been charged "massive amounts of Tariffs" for many years. The president declared "No more!!!" in his post, signaling continued pressure on Canada to comply with US trade demands. The comments represent his first public remarks since trade talks broke down.
The trade dispute has now escalated into what both sides describe as a full-scale trade war, with tit-for-tat tariffs affecting multiple sectors. Canadian officials have vowed to respond to US measures, though specific retaliation details were still being finalized as of Sunday.