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LA MALBAIE, Que. — Donald Trump is ramping up his blast of Canada on Twitter this morning over what he says are unfair trade practices as the U.S. president prepares to make his Canadian debut later today.
Just after 6 a.m. today, Trump used the social media platform to accuse Canada of charging U.S. customers with astronomical tariffs on dairy products.
“They didn’t tell you that, did they? Not fair to our farmers!,” his Twitter feed states.
The latest series of tweets by Trump follow posts he made last night — including his accusation that his host Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being “indignant.”
In today’s postings, Trump says he is heading to Canada for G7 talks that will mostly centre on the longtime, unfair trade practices aimed at the United States.
“Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!,” he states.
Trump’s comments on agriculture, his imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as broader disagreements on trade, climate change and the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement, are setting the stage for some tense G7 talks once Trump arrives at the summit in the Quebec town of La Malbaie.
Trump is expected to arrive this morning and leave by midday on Saturday, missing a final session on climate change in order to fly to Singapore to meet with North Korea’s leader.
Trudeau addressed the president’s Twitter blasts while visiting Quebec’s Saguenay region on Thursday.
“I’ve been firm, I’ve been clear, but I don’t think descending into insults is right for the way Canada engages with the world,” the prime minister said.
Trudeau said he would continue to stand up for Canadian dairy producers and the country’s supply management system.
Trudeau said he and Trump have disagreed over Trump’s call for Canada to open up its supply management system, which protects dairy, poultry and eggs farmers, during the difficult ongoing renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
In the last week, Trump and Trudeau have exchanged tough words over trade after the U.S. imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, Mexico and Europe. Canada has countered with a plan to impose tariffs of its own on U.S. metals and other consumer goods.
Trudeau has worked hard to find common ground with the unpredictable president, but the personal bond he has tried to forge has been strained.
He has called Trump’s imposition of the tariffs “irresponsible” and “insulting” because the two countries have fought as allies in Second World War, Korea and Afghanistan.
Trudeau and his fellow G7 leaders will try to persuade Trump to reverse the duties when they meet him during the summit.
“We will continue to demonstrate that we’re interested in defending Canadian interests and, on top of that, it turns out I’m defending American interests because these tariffs they’re putting forward are going to hurt American workers as well,” Trudeau said Thursday.
“So, if I can get the president to actually realize that what he’s doing is counterproductive for his own goals as well, then perhaps we can move forward in a smarter way.”
Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press