Trump, declaring a 10% tariff increase on Canadian goods, said all trade discussions with Ottawa are suspended until further notice.
According to the president, Canada had run a “misleading advertising campaign” involving former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, which he described as “anti-American in spirit.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “I don’t want to meet with Carney right now.”
He added that Canada remains “one of the most difficult countries to deal with,” though he emphasized his “love for Canada and its people.” Trump did not specify when the new tariffs would take effect.
Meanwhile, during a regional summit in Malaysia, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is ready to reopen dialogue whenever the United States is prepared. “We’re ready — whenever America wants to sit down, we’ll be there,” Carney told reporters.
Carney confirmed there had been no direct contact with Trump but said he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea to discuss global trade and development.
Canada’s economy has already been hit by U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles — sectors crucial to bilateral trade.
Carney noted, “We had made considerable progress in our trade relationship, particularly in steel, aluminum, and energy.”
In Ontario, the provincial government on Monday pulled a controversial advertisement that featured excerpts from a 1987 Reagan radio address. The Reagan Foundation criticized the ad for using “selective and misleading audio and visuals,” saying it was considering legal action.
