TEHRAN: US president Donald Trump said he had ended all trade talks with Canada in protest over a political advertisement that criticised tariffs.
"ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED," Trump said in a post on his social media platform late on 23 October.
Trump alleged that the advertisement, featuring former president Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs, was an attempt to interfere with a pending decision by the US Supreme Court on the legality of tariffs.
Canada was among the first targets of Trump's tariffs once he returned to office. US imports from Canada are subject to a 35pc tariff, with separate duties on imported cars, auto parts, steel and aluminium.
In practice, imports from Canada are taxed at the lowest rates among the top US trading partners, because the bulk of trade is exempted from tariffs under the terms of the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Energy commodities are also exempted from Trump's tariffs.
The Canadian government said earlier this month that it was hoping to reach quick trade deals over steel, aluminium and energy after a meeting between Trump and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney.
The US Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for 5 November to review rulings by lower courts on whether Trump overstepped his authority when placing emergency tariffs on most imports into the US.
