Trump demands Canadian firms relocate to US, brands Canada ‘the worst’

President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Canadian companies doing business in the United States to move their operations south of the border, promising zero tariffs for those that comply, as the trade conflict between the two countries reaches new intensity.

"Let all Canadian Companies that are doing business with America move to the United States, immediately," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!" In a separate post, he claimed that "Canadian businesses are pouring into the United States," though it remains unclear which firms, if any, have initiated relocation plans.anews+1

Trump also branded Canada "the worst" among countries he deals with, writing: "I don't want Canadian cars, I don't want Canadian parts, I don't want Canadian anything".themirror

Trade War Deepens

The rhetoric follows the imposition on August 22 of 50 percent tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, covering more than 550 products from hockey sticks to cement. Trump has also directed a 50 percent tariff on all Canadian cars, trucks, and steel starting January 1, 2027.trtworld+2

Canada announced retaliatory tariffs of 15, 25, and 50 percent on $27.6 billion worth of American imports — including steel, dairy, appliances, and electronics — set to take effect September 8. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would match Washington's tariffs "dollar for dollar" and described the country as being "at war" over trade.reuters+2

The legal basis for the tariffs has also drawn scrutiny. Section 338, last invoked decades ago, authorizes presidential tariffs of up to 50 percent on imports from countries deemed to discriminate against U.S. businesses. Trade lawyers have said lawsuits challenging the statute's application are expected.pbs+1

Backlash on Both Sides of the Border

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has emerged as one of Trump's most vocal antagonists, erecting a billboard-sized sign along Lake Ontario's shore reading "Lake Ontario — Now and Always" after Trump signed an executive order renaming the lake "Lake America." Ford warned that if the U.S. continues its pressure, "You won't get a grain of sand out of Ontario," and raised the prospect of restricting exports of critical minerals including nickel and uranium.aljazeera+1

Meanwhile, Canadians have renewed a boycott of U.S. goods and travel. Canadian visits to American metropolitan areas fell 42 percent year over year, according to a University of Toronto analysis, and Canadians spent C$3.3 billion less on U.S. trips in 2025 compared with 2024, according to Statistics Canada. The latest round of tariffs threatens to deepen those losses further, with British Columbia Premier David Eby urging citizens to choose Canadian destinations instead.thetravel+2

Canada's Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne framed Ottawa's response as a matter of necessity: "We did not choose this conflict, but when our economic integration is used as a weapon rather than the foundation for a win-win partnership, we need to stand up".themirror