Trump claims Canadian businesses 'pouring' into US amid trade war

US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that Canadian businesses are rapidly relocating to the United States as trade hostilities between Washington and Ottawa intensify, declaring on his Truth Social platform that the cross-border economic relationship would undergo fundamental transformation. "Canadian businesses are pouring into the United States. We want to make our own cars, etc. That's what's going to happen," he wrote, adding that Canada has been "ripping us off for years."

In subsequent posts, the US president issued a direct appeal to firms currently operating north of the border, claiming many had relocated from the US due to previous "stupid" leadership and promising zero tariffs for those who transfer their operations back to American soil. "Let all Canadian companies that are doing business with America move to the United States, immediately," he wrote, describing Canada as "one of the worst abusers" of US trade policy and asserting that "they want to be treated like a state, but they aren't one." Trump compared the necessity of these trade measures against Ottawa to his military strategy against Iran, noting that both issues should have been addressed by previous administrations years ago.

Tariff measures and Canadian response

Trump's remarks follow the imposition of 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods on August 22 and his directive to levy an equivalent duty on all Canadian cars, trucks, and steel starting January 1, 2027. The US president maintains these measures are necessary to address a trade deficit exceeding $60 billion — a shortfall he has repeatedly cited while urging manufacturers to relocate to American soil to secure preferential tariff treatment.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected Washington's approach, labeling the new levies a "miscalculation" and an attempt to "hurt and divide" Canada. Carney said the country is "at war" over trade and announced that Ottawa would implement reciprocal tariffs on $20 billion worth of US imports beginning September 8.