Stories

Sun, 23 Aug 2026

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 Trump says Canada wants 'benefits' of being US state after trade talks collapse

Canada's PM said he was "reluctantly" announcing retaliatory tariffs and accused the US of starting a trade war.

* US President Donald Trump says Canada wants "the benefits of being a State, without being one" after trade talks collapse.
* Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney calls new 50% US tariffs on Canadian goods a "miscalculation" and vows to match them "dollar-for-dollar".
* Carney says the US presented "unacceptable" terms that were too restrictive, including curbing Canada's ability to strike new trade deals with other countries.
* The collapse of trade talks has triggered 50% US tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, worth about $20bn (£15bn; C$28bn).
* Carney rejects the assertion that Canada made last-minute requests: "We clarified what was on offer and were continually disappointed by the answers."
* Trump's comments echo his repeated references to making Canada the "51st state" of America since returning to office.
* Canadian leaders, including provinces' premiers, support Carney's decision to retaliate against US tariffs.
* The new 50% US tariffs will apply to a range of Canadian goods, in addition to existing US tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminium, automobiles and lumber.