Trump Erupts (Again) on Truth Social In Nocturnal Posting Spree, Threatens More Tariffs

Donald Trump launched a furious new attack against Canada on Truth Social after intensive trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa collapsed over the weekend. Canada walked away after concluding that Washington’s latest proposal had become «uneconomic, unfair» and raised serious questions about whether any agreement reached with the United States could provide lasting economic certainty.

The breakdown came after more than a year of negotiations and a final push that had appeared capable of producing an agreement. Instead, Canada ordered its negotiators back to Ottawa. Trump quickly responded by dramatically escalating the confrontation and announcing another major tariff threat against several of Canada’s most important export industries.

Trump began his message with the accusation, «Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years.» He then announced, «On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50%.» Companies producing inside America, he said, would avoid those tariffs.

Trump’s attack soon expanded beyond tariffs. «Canada will be treated like a State no longer!» he wrote. He described Canada as «among the worst Nations in the World to deal with» before declaring, «They feel entitled, and yet, WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!» His message portrayed the economic relationship as overwhelmingly benefiting Ottawa.

Canada disputes Trump’s portrayal of the relationship. Ottawa says it is the largest customer for American cars and steel products, while ranking as the largest export customer for 26 U.S. states and among the top three for 45. Americans also sold nearly $600 billion worth of goods and services to Canadians last year.

Mark Carney said Washington introduced unacceptable terms near the end of negotiations. «In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair, and undermined the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal.» Ottawa ultimately concluded that continuing under those conditions was no longer worthwhile.

Canada had been prepared to make significant concessions, including encouraging provinces to return American alcohol to store shelves while seeking lower U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles. But Ottawa refused to compromise its sovereignty, key domestic industries, French-language protections or cultural policies. Carney summarized the outcome: «In short, they asked too much and offered too little.»

With negotiations suspended, Canada is preparing another round of retaliation. Ottawa says it will match Washington’s new tariffs dollar for dollar, targeting American steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. The Canadian measures are scheduled to come into force on the Tuesday following Labour Day.

Ottawa acknowledges that retaliatory tariffs could increase prices and reduce choices for Canadian consumers, but argues that action is necessary to protect workers and businesses. Carney rejected the idea that American economic pressure would fracture the country, saying, «The new U.S. tariffs are designed to hurt and divide us. They’re a miscalculation. They’re a miscalculation because Canadians will always take care of each other.»

Canada is simultaneously accelerating efforts to reduce its economic dependence on the United States by strengthening domestic industries and expanding international trade. Carney’s government says Canada has signed more than 20 trade and security agreements across five continents over the past year, presenting diversification as a permanent economic strategy rather than merely a temporary response to Trump.

Neither government is showing signs of abandoning its core position. Trump argues that Canada needs access to the American economy far more than the United States needs Canada, while Ottawa is increasingly determined to challenge that dependence. With negotiations abandoned and additional tariffs approaching, the dispute is becoming a broader confrontation over the future of the Canada-U.S. economic relationship.