Trump Says Canada Wants a Trade Deal “Very Badly” as U.S.-Canada Tensions Continue

DUBLIN — President Donald Trump said Canada wants to reach a trade agreement with the United States “very badly,” while suggesting Ottawa is not yet prepared to accept Washington’s demands.

Trump made the remarks Saturday during his visit to Ireland, where reporters asked whether his administration could withdraw from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The president responded by comparing Canada’s position with Iran’s efforts to reach an agreement with Washington, an unusual comparison that immediately drew attention in Canada.

“Canada wants to make a deal very badly, just like Iran wants to make a deal very badly,” Trump told reporters in Dublin.

Trump then suggested Ottawa was not ready to finalize an agreement, adding that he hoped Canada appreciated being mentioned alongside Iran during the exchange.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump indicated that a new agreement could still emerge relatively soon if Canada addresses several American concerns surrounding agricultural trade.

Trump specifically criticized Canadian treatment of American farmers, arguing that Canadian tariffs and trade barriers continue to disadvantage U.S. agricultural producers seeking access to Canadian markets.

He said Canada would need to remove those barriers before Washington could move toward an agreement, suggesting negotiations remain dependent on concessions from Ottawa.

Trump also said a deal could come “fairly soon,” signaling that despite months of escalating tensions, the administration has not completely abandoned the possibility of renewed negotiations.

The comments come after trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa deteriorated sharply, with both countries imposing new tariffs on goods crossing their shared border.

The United States imposed a 50% tariff on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods beginning August 22, prompting Canada to announce matching countermeasures on selected American imports.

Canada’s counter-tariffs, effective September 8, range from 15% to 50% and target sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics.

Ottawa has also introduced a C$7.5 billion support package intended to help Canadian workers and businesses absorb the economic effects of the escalating tariff dispute.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended Canada’s approach, emphasizing the need for a trade relationship with the United States that is stable, credible and beneficial to both countries.

Carney previously said Canada remains prepared to negotiate with Washington, while rejecting demands that Ottawa believes would undermine Canadian economic interests or domestic policy priorities.

The dispute has already begun affecting consumer behavior, with Canadian shoppers increasingly favoring domestic products and retailers adjusting supply chains to reduce dependence on American imports.

The confrontation also threatens the deeply integrated North American economy, where manufacturers, farmers, retailers and energy companies rely heavily on cross-border trade between the United States and Canada.

Washington and Ottawa still have incentives to reach an agreement, but major disagreements remain over tariffs, agricultural access, manufacturing and the future of the North American trade framework.

For now, Trump’s latest comments suggest the door to negotiations remains open, although any agreement will likely depend on whether Canada accepts Washington’s demands on agriculture and broader trade policy.

The comparison with Iran adds another layer of political tension to an already strained relationship, highlighting how dramatically relations between the traditional North American allies have deteriorated under Trump’s tariff strategy.