US President Donald Trump has hit back at Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs following the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries.
Trump accused Canada of wanting the benefits of being part of the United States without accepting statehood.
“Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!!”
The comments mark another escalation between the longtime allies, with trade tensions worsening after three days of negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
Mr Carney said Canada would introduce new tariffs on US imports from September 8.
The measures will target products including American steel, electronics and other goods.
They come after new US tariffs of 50 per cent were imposed on about $US20 billion ($28 billion) worth of Canadian goods.
The duties affect around 5.5 per cent of Canada’s exports to the US.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to absorb Canada into the US since returning to the White House for his second term.
His references to Canada becoming the “51st state” have angered Canadian politicians.
The latest dispute has also put further pressure on the future of the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
Most Canadian exports to the US have been protected from tariffs under the three-nation agreement during the past 18 months.
The latest US duties target sectors including wine, furniture, dairy products, cement, clothing, fishing rods and hockey equipment.
Canadian trade experts have warned the tariffs could put vulnerable industries under significant pressure.
Softwood lumber and wine producers are among those facing potential damage, with businesses also warning of possible job losses and closures.
“We will be mobilising our network of businesses in all regions and all sectors to brace for impact and make the best of a bad situation,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Candace Laing said.
The breakdown in talks came after Washington and Ottawa blamed each other for the failure to reach a deal.
Mr Carney said the US had also put forward proposals that affected Canadian culture, language and sovereignty, although he did not provide further details.
The Canadian Prime Minister was elected last year after campaigning on a promise to take a tougher approach to negotiations with Trump.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, one of the most outspoken critics of Trump’s tariff measures, backed Mr Carney’s decision to retaliate.
“I’m glad he didn’t sign that deal because it was a bad deal. It was a bad deal for Ontario. It was a bad deal for the auto sector, the steel sector, and the manufacturing sector,” Mr Ford said.
The Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also called on Canadians to unite against the US tariffs.
“Canadians must stand united to defend our country against these unfair attacks on our jobs and businesses,” Mr Poilievre said.