Canadian officials, including Premier Doug Ford, warned that a prolonged trade conflict could harm both economies, describing Trump’s actions as counterproductive.
Photo : AP
US President Donald Trump has told Canadian companies doing business with the US to move their headquarters and production facilities south of the border to avoid new tariffs, escalating a growing trade dispute with Canada. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said Canadian companies should relocate to the US “immediately”, arguing that they would not face tariffs if they moved their operations.
“Let all Canadian Companies that are doing business with America move to the United States, immediately,” he wrote. “Many of them are Companies that moved out years ago due to stupid U.S. Leadership. When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!”
His comments came after Canadian officials warned that Ottawa was prepared for a prolonged trade dispute with Washington.
Trump has announced tariffs of up to 50% on some Canadian goods, including dairy products and lumber. Canada has responded with tariffs on US steel, aluminium and other exports.
The new US duties are due to take effect in 2027.
Trump Calls Canada ‘One of the Worst Abusers’
In another post, Trump described Canada as “one of the Worst Abusers”, despite the country being the US’s second-largest trading partner. The US and Canada conduct nearly $900bn in cross-border economic activity each year, according to the US trade representative.
“I don’t want Canadian cars, I don’t want Canadian parts, I don’t want Canadian anything,” Trump wrote. “They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop.”
He credited his tariff policies with helping to save the US automobile industry. However, many American manufacturers continue to rely on parts and systems made in other countries, including Canada.
Ford earlier this year thanked the Trump administration for exempting some vehicle parts from tariffs, but it remains unclear how the latest measures will affect the US car industry.
Canada Warns of Impact of Trade War
The latest escalation follows a series of increasingly tense exchanges between Trump and Canadian officials, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Ford warned on Sunday that a prolonged trade war could cause serious damage to both economies.
“Everyone’s feeling bullied by President Trump, and this is the worst thing you could do for the American economy,” he told ABC’s This Week. “I just don’t see the purpose. It’s absolutely backwards.”
He also described Trump’s recent decision to direct US federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” as “something out of Saturday Night Live.” “No one is going to call it Lake America,” Ford said.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also criticised the US president, saying: “I think Donald Trump is very weak. I think America is weaker around the world today than it was a year ago.”
Kinew added: “He’s about to get slaughtered in the midterms and the cost of living is the number one issue and he’s completely out of touch with the cost of living of Americans.”
