Trump accuses Canada of seeking state benefits after trade talks collapse

President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform on Sunday to claim that Canada wants "the benefits of being a State, without being one," adding that Canadian farmers have faced "massive amounts of tariffs" for years. The remarks followed the suspension of trade talks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who ordered his trade team back to Ottawa after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian imports on Saturday.

Carney said Ottawa will impose retaliatory tariffs "dollar for dollar" on a range of U.S. goods, including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics, with the measures slated to begin on Sept. 8, the Tuesday after Labor Day. He described the U.S. actions as a "last-minute power play" that threatens Canadian sovereignty and cited new U.S. demands on Canada’s other trade relationships, the auto sector, and cultural protections as reasons the talks fell apart.

The U.S. trade team disputes that account. Trade Representative Katherine Tai (spelled incorrectly in the source) told "Fox & Friends Weekend" that the United States aims to protect American workers and supply chains and had offered to reduce tariffs on Canadian steel, autos and lumber. She said Canada declined those offers and that no further negotiations are scheduled.