U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a Steel Across America event featuring a 21-foot steel beam recovered from the World Trade Centre South Tower, on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 8, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
President Donald Trump ratcheted up his trade fight with Canada on Tuesday, threatening to cut Canadian products out of a massive U.S. government purchasing program.
The new threat came on Truth Social, where Trump accused Canada of running a “trade scam” by shutting American farmers and businesses out of its markets while enjoying broad access to government contracting in the United States.
“Everyone knows that Canada doesn’t let our Great Dairy Farmers sell into the Canadian Market,” Trump wrote Tuesday on his social media platform. He also claimed that Canada only produces automobiles “because of previous disastrous Trade Agreements while other Presidents were in Office.”
“Canada has been ripping us off for years, but what many do not realize is that the Canadian Government, including Canadian Provinces, have banned American Small Businesses and Companies from selling into their Government Procurement Markets,” he added.
“That is not reciprocity; it is a Canadian Trade Scam,” Trump declared. “From now on, NO RECIPROCITY – NO ACCESS!”
Trump said he was directing the General Services Administration and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to remove Canadian products from federal purchasing schedules unless Canada gives American farmers and companies “full and fair reciprocity.”
Trump said those schedules account for more than $50 billion annually before taking a familiar swipe at President Joe Biden.
“This should have been cut off years ago, by other Administrations, like it was by mine, only to (sic) reinstituted by Sleepy Joe Biden,” he wrote.
The threat came as Canadian retaliatory tariffs took effect Tuesday.