President Donald Trump erupted Sunday in a lengthy rant against Canada amid the ongoing trade war between Washington and Ottawa, a dispute that experts warn could soon “spiral” and cost tens of thousands of jobs, or more.
“I don’t want Canadian cars, I don’t want Canadian parts, I don’t want Canadian anything. They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“This should have happened long ago with other Presidents, just as stopping Iran should have happened long ago. They want to be treated like a State, but they aren’t one. I deal with the Leadership of many Countries, but I find Canada to be the worst. They are entitled no longer!”
Trump imposed a 50% tariff on $20 billion of Canadian goods earlier this month after Canadian officials refused to cave to his administration’s demands, which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney claimed would have stripped Canada of its sovereignty as it relates to its ability to trade with other nations.
Carney has responded by vowing to match Trump’s tariffs “dollar for dollar,” with Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods appearing specifically designed to target states “with competitive midterm elections” for maximum pressure, CBS News reported.
In a follow-up post, Trump urged “all" Canadian companies to move to the United States “immediately” to avoid his new tariffs.
“Many of them are Companies that moved out years ago due to stupid U.S. Leadership,” Trump wrote. “When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!”