US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that businesses are returning to the United States from Canada to avoid rising trade tariffs, while renewing sharp criticism of economic relations between the two countries.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the United States has suffered a persistent trade deficit with Canada, estimating the loss at more than $60 billion annually.
"For many years, the USA has been losing more than 60 Billion Dollars a year with Canada. Why???" Trump wrote. He asserted that companies that had previously moved operations outside the US are returning across the border in response to trade policies. "Our long ago stolen businesses are now coming back to America in order to avoid paying tariffs. They are lining up, just like the rest of the World!!!" he added.
The statements follow a breakdown in bilateral trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa, which triggered a series of new economic measures. The US administration introduced 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods—including steel, aluminum, and manufactured goods—and threatened further 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles and auto components set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
In response to the US measures, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced reciprocal counter-tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on $27.6 billion worth of American imports beginning September 8. The targeted goods include US agricultural products, steel, aluminum, appliances, and electronics.
Trump urged Canadian firms operating in the American market to permanently relocate their production facilities to the US, promising an exemption from import duties for companies operating domestically. Economists continue to monitor the potential disruptions these trade barriers present to cross-border supply chains governed by the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
