Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Nov 1: US President Donald Trump on Friday firmly ruled out resuming trade negotiations with Canada, just a week after halting discussions over a controversial anti-tariff advertisement.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had great respect for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney but accused Ottawa of wrongdoing. “I really like him a lot,” Trump said. “But what they did was wrong.”

When asked whether talks would resume, the President replied, “No,” despite acknowledging that Carney had apologized for the advertisement, which Trump called “a false commercial.”

The US President had reacted sharply to Canada’s anti-protectionist campaign, abruptly ending bilateral trade talks and imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on Canadian goods.

Despite the dispute, Trump emphasized that he still maintains a “good relationship” with Carney and noted their “positive discussion” during the APEC summit in South Korea.

Earlier this week, during a summit in Malaysia, Carney reiterated that Canada remained ready to resume trade talks with Washington.

The breakdown marks a sharp setback in ties between the two close allies. Canada remains the United States’ second-largest trading partner and a key supplier of steel and aluminum. Although most cross-border trade continues tariff-free under the North American Free Trade Agreement, targeted levies on steel, aluminum, and automobiles have severely affected Canadian industries, leading to job losses and economic strain.