New Delhi: The United States president, Donald Trump, has once again targeted Canada saying he does not want Canadian cars, automotive parts, or “Canada anything” in the US. He urged Canadian companies doing business with America to shift their operations south of the border immediately, while claiming that his tariff policies had revived and saved the American automobile industry.
Referring to 2024 presidential election, trump claimed Ford was preparing to shut a major factory in Detroit when he announced his bid for the White House. He said company kept the plant open after he began leading the polls and claimed it is now operation 24/7 and ranks among the world’s most profitable car plants.
Trump said there are several more examples involving Ford, General Motors and other automakers, claiming that his tariff policies had helped bring investments and production back to the US. “I’ve revived, and indeed saved, the Automobile Business in our America. That’s because of what I’ve done with TARIFFS,” he said.
Turning his focus to Canada, Trump described the country as “one of the worst abusers” and accused it of exploiting US for decades. “They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop,” he added, arguing that previous US presidents should have taken similar action much earlier. He also compared the issue with Canada’s trade practices to Iran, saying that “stopping Iran” should likewise have happened long ago.
Trump’s latest remarks come amid a fresh tension in US-Canda trade relations after the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, suspended negotiations with Washington. Carney said the proposed US terms were unfair and uneconomic, as RNA Media had reported earlier.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in US-Canada trade talks after Washington imposed 50 per cent tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods, covering products including steel, aluminium and other manufactured goods. Trump has also threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks and automotive parts to 50 per cent from January 1, 2027.
Canada has responded with 15 per cent, 25 per cent and 50 per cent counter tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of US imports, targeting products including steel and aluminium, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics.
Amid the tariff standoff, Trump has also sought to encourage Canadian companies to shift their operations to the US. “When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!” he wrote on Truth Social, arguing that relocating production to America would allow companies to avoid the duties while expanding domestic manufacturing.
Trump has repeatedly argued that tariffs can encourage companies to invest and manufacture in the US rather than rely on imports. His latest push for Canadian businesses to relocate is part of that broader approach to trade and domestic production.
Trump also escalated his criticism of Canada’s broader relationship with the US, saying Ottawa wanted to be treated like a US state despite not being one. He said he deals with the leadership of many countries but described Canada as the “worst” country to deal with, adding that Canada was “entitled no longer”.