'Canada wants benefits of being State without being one': Trump's 1st reaction after trade talks collapse

Trump revived his '51st state' jab against Canada in his criticism over the collapse of trade talks. He stated, "Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers with massive tariffs. No more!!!", on Truth Social. This is Trump's first direct reaction since Canada PM Mark Carney ordered his trade negotiation team to return from the US. Canada suspended trade negotiations with the United States after Ottawa rejected what Prime Minister Mark Carney called damaging last-minute demands from Washington, describing them as 'excessive' and 'uneconomic'. Carney said the US introduced new terms that would have reduced tariff relief for Canadian-made vehicles, restricted Ottawa’s ability to strike trade deals with other countries, and weakened protections for Canadian language and culture. "In short, they asked too much, and they offered too little," he said. Ottawa had been prepared to drop retaliatory tariffs on US steel, aluminum, and autos if Washington substantially reduced its own duties. Canada was also willing to encourage provinces to restore US alcohol sales. However, Carney said the final US demands went beyond what Canada could accept. "We are masters in our own home," he said, summing up Ottawa’s position. He also accused Washington of using "economic integration as a weapon" and said its demands were "written in pencil." The breakdown in negotiations came just days after both sides had sounded optimistic about reaching an agreement. Canada has now recalled its negotiators, while the US imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Ottawa has said it will begin retaliatory measures on September 8, responding "dollar for dollar." Canada’s tariffs notably target the US steel and dairy industries. On the US side, chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer said the administration had been forced to act after a year of Canadian retaliation. "We’ve said enough, and so we’ve taken countermeasures," Greer told Fox News. He said Washington had offered to reduce tariffs on Canadian steel, autos, and lumber, but Ottawa rejected the proposal. "They’ve always had the best deal, and they still would have an even better deal, but they didn’t want that," he said. The latest breakdown has raised fresh concerns over the future of the North American trade agreement covering the US, Canada, and Mexico. Carney said the failed talks were "certainly not good news" for the review of the agreement and had given Canada a "new perspective" on Washington’s expectations for the wider economic relationship. The two countries traded about $880 billion in goods and services last year, with nearly 72% of Canada’s goods exports going to the US. The latest US tariffs are expected to affect about 5% of what Canada ships to its southern neighbor each year.