Trump is ending trade talks with Canada
Share this @internewscast.com
President Donald Trump said Friday (Saturday AEST) he has put an end to trade talks with Canada and will soon announce a new tariff rate for that country, he said in a Truth Social post on Friday.

The decision to end negotiations, which have been ongoing for several months, came after Canada announced a digital service tax, Trump said, calling it “a direct and blatant attack on our Country.”

“Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,” he said.

President Donald Trump said Saturday he has put an end to trade talks with Canada and will soon announce a new tariff rate for that country (9News)

“We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven-day period.”

Trump has taken particular issue with DSTs throughout trade negotiations with other countries, commonly referring to them as “non-tariff trade barriers.”

Canada has a new DST that is set to take effect on Monday that will be retroactive to 2022.

Digital services taxes are a way for countries to tax online services, in contrast to taxes on physical products.

Countries with these taxes can collect revenue from large companies that operate online — even if the business is unprofitable.

American firms, especially Big Tech companies such as Meta, Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft, are disproportionately affected by DSTs, according to a report published last year by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office told CNN the Canadian government is considering its response. (AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday he wants to continue negotiating with the US.

“We’ll continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interest of Canadians. It’s a negotiation,” Carney said to reporters.

“We knew (the tax) was coming. We hoped they wouldn’t do it,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday on CNBC.

“We think it’s patently unfair to do it retroactively. This is something from the Trudeau years, so we were hoping, as a sign of goodwill, that the new Carney administration would at least put a break on that during the trade talks. They seem not to have,” Bessent added.

If the Canadian government moves forward with the tax, Bessent said Trump is prepared to impose higher tariffs across all Canadian goods, without specifying a rate.

Canada is the top buyer of American goods, importing $534.6 billion worth last year, according to Department of Commerce data.

Meanwhile, Canada shipped $632.6 billion worth of goods to the US last year, the third-highest source of foreign goods.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted by President Donald Trump as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House on May 6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Levying higher tariffs on Canada would likely cause the country to retaliate by imposing higher tariffs on American goods. That would take a toll on both countries’ economies.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office told CNN the Canadian government is considering its response.

In a social media post, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, wrote that he hopes both countries can return to the negotiating table.

“Disappointed that trade talks have halted. Hopefully they resume quickly,” he wrote.

Several Canadian businesses and groups CNN has spoken to have been pushing the government not to move forward with the tax, fearing they could cause trade tensions to escalate between the US.

“For many years, the Business Council of Canada has warned that the implementation of a unilateral digital services tax could risk undermining Canada’s economic relationship with its most important trading partner, the United States,” Goldy Hyder, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada, said in a statement to CNN on Friday.

“That unfortunate development has now come to pass.”

“In an effort to get trade negotiations back on track, Canada should put forward an immediate proposal to eliminate the DST in exchange for an elimination of tariffs from the United States.”

At the start of his second term, Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff across all Canadian exports. (AP)

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce echoed those sentiments.

“Our position on the Digital Services Tax has been consistent, but primarily for the reason that it’s self-defeating in nature.

That said, it’s a pivotal time for Canada-US relations,” Candace Laing, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement to CNN.

“The tone and tenor of talks has improved in recent months, and we hope to see progress continue.”

“We respect that Team Canada is conducting these negotiations at the table, and we need to give them the space to navigate.”

At the start of his second term, Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff across all Canadian exports, with rates going even higher for specific products.

However, as it stands, most Canadian goods have been exempt from those 25 per cent tariffs, as long as they comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement he negotiated in his first term.

HAMILTON, CANADA - JUNE 09: A worker affixes a steel coil to a truck at ArcelorMittal Dofasco's steel mill on June 9, 2025 in Hamilton, Canada. President Donald Trump announced plans to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%, affecting top steel partners, including Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Trump later doubled the tariff on all steel and aluminium imports to 50 per cent. (Getty images)

The biggest exceptions, with some fine print, are the 25 per cent tariffs on all foreign cars, car parts, steel and aluminium.

Trump later doubled the tariff on all steel and aluminium imports to 50 per cent.

Goods coming from Canada that were not USMCA-compliant have faced a combined 50 per cent tariff rate.

In response to those auto tariffs, Canada levied a 25 per cent tariff on US-made vehicles that aren’t compliant with USMCA.

Canada also retaliated against Trump’s initial 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs by rolling out a 25 per cent tariff on roughly $65.8 billion worth of US goods, including whiskey, sporting gear and household appliances.

Dozens of other countries could soon face higher tariffs as a July 9 deadline looms for “reciprocal” tariffs announced in April to resume unless the impacted countries ink trade deals with the United States.

It’s unclear if Trump will end up extending that deadline further and where tariff rates could end up.

President Donald Trump gestures after arriving on Air Force One, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Canada also retaliated against Trump’s initial 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs by rolling out a 25 per cent tariff on roughly $65.8 billion worth of US goods. (AP)

Several European Union countries also have DSTs, however, Bessent said on Friday, “We’re in active discussions with them to take those down.”

Stocks closed higher Friday despite Trump’s latest tariff threat.

The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which had dipped into the red after his post, both gained 0.52 per cent to close at record highs.

The Dow gained 432 points, or 1 per cent.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Historic Ceasefire: Cambodia and Thailand Unite with Trump’s Mediation

US President Donald Trump co-signed a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia…

Sydney Man Under Fire: Replica Gun Scandal and Alleged Federal Police Impersonation

A man from Sydney’s eastern suburbs is facing charges after allegedly posing…

Singapore’s Unyielding Justice: The Controversial Execution of Pannir Selvam

Singapore’s stringent justice system has once again drawn international attention following the…

Shocking Allegations Emerge: Australian Women’s World Cup Cricketers Report Inappropriate Incident in India

Two players in Australia’s Women’s World Cup cricket squad have allegedly been…
AI chatbot warning

Principal Issues Urgent Alert: The Hidden Dangers of AI Chatbot Relationships for Students

Australian teachers and parents are concerned young students could develop unhealthy emotional…
A man has been accused of harassing and inappropriately touching two players from the Australian women's cricket team in the Indian city of Indore.

Man Detained for Allegedly Harassing Australian Cricketers in India

Two cricket players, whose names have been kept confidential, encountered a disturbing…
'It was just emptiness': Mum's devastating realisation she needed help

Mother Confronts Emotional Void: A Wake-Up Call for Support

Marcelle Cooper experienced an unsettling moment when she gazed at her joyful,…
This undated photo provided by Essex Police on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 shows Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu. (Essex Police/PA via AP)

UK Authorities Launch Urgent Search for Asylum Seeker Mistakenly Released from Prison

An Ethiopian asylum-seeker, who had been sentenced to a year in a…

Kamala Harris Hints at 2028 Presidential Ambitions: What This Means for the Future of U.S. Politics

Kamala Harris is not ruling out another run for the White House.…

Trump Imposes 10% Tariff on Canada in Response to TV Ad Campaign

United States President Donald Trump says he plans to hike tariffs on…
After visiting Uluru to mark 40 year since the handback, he's departing Darwin bound for Malaysia and a week with Pacific leaders at ASEAN, buoyed by new opportunities stemming from the critical minerals deal signed in the White House.

Albanese’s Strategic Asia Trip: Navigating Diplomatic Tensions Amid Rudd Controversy

Following his visit to Uluru to commemorate 40 years since its handover,…
Harry Brook's extraordinary 135 was not enough to save England from defeat in New Zealand

Harry Brook’s Unstoppable Record-Breaking Performance Can’t Save England from New Zealand Defeat

Harry Brook nearly achieved one of cricket’s most remarkable feats of resilience,…