Trump Calls Canada ‘One of the Worst Countries in the Entire World’

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Canada, calling it “one of the worst countries in the entire world” as trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa continue to escalate. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, September 28, Trump said Canada had treated the United States “very unfairly” and accused Ottawa of imposing tariffs of 400% or more on some American agricultural products.

“They want to have a deal with us. They call us all the time,” Trump said, according to reports of his remarks. “The problem is, they have treated the United States very unfairly. They have been one of the worst countries in the entire world.” Trump also described Canada as difficult to negotiate with and accused the country of taking advantage of the United States. His comments came against the backdrop of a widening trade dispute between the two North American neighbours.

The United States imposed a new 50% tariff on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade negotiations broke down, while Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.

The latest tensions have also resulted in additional U.S. restrictions on Canadian imports. On September 29, a U.S. import ban covering several Canadian products, including various alcoholic beverages, whey protein and high-powered motorcycles, took effect.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada’s trade relationship with the United States in recent months. In an earlier September 13 exchange with reporters, he described Canada as the “worst country to deal with,” while distinguishing between Canada’s leaders and its people, whom he described as “fantastic.”

The latest remarks add another sharp exchange to an increasingly strained relationship between the two longtime trading partners, with negotiations over their future trade relationship still unresolved.