Trump accuses Canada of secret trade violations before midterms: ‘We’ve caught them in the act’

President Donald Trump accused Canada of secretly imposing tariffs on the United States. He said, “we’ve caught them in the act,” claiming that “nobody knew” about the tariffs except him.

As first reported by Mediaite, Trump made the claim while speaking with reporters outside the White House before heading to a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska. A reporter asked whether he would resume trade talks with Canada before the midterm elections. 

Trump turned the question toward what he described as Canada’s treatment of the United States. He said Canada had “charged us a lot of tariffs that nobody knew about” and added, “except me.”

The tariff fight is still unresolved

Trump did not specify which Canadian tariffs he was referring to in the remarks reported by Mediaite. Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on American goods in September, but it is unclear whether those are what Trump meant.

The two countries remained locked in a trade fight after talks fell apart. The midterm elections are in November. “I don’t know,” Trump answered. “Canada behaves very badly with the United States, and I don’t know.”

Trump did not sound pressed on timing. “It’ll work out eventually,” he said. “I’m in no rush.” He also contrasted the two countries’ business ties. “Canada does all their business with us. We do very little business with them.”

After pausing for about five seconds and walking a few steps, he returned to the topic. “They are not honest with the United States,” he said. “They’ve been ripping us off for years.”

In August, the U.S. placed tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Canadian goods. Canada answered the following month with its own tariffs on American products. 

Trump’s comments also came after contrasting remarks about Canada. In late August, he posted “WE DON’T NEED CANADA” on social media. Hours later, he said the U.S. “desperately needs” aluminum from its northern neighbor, per Mediaite. 

The feud has also reached beyond trade. Trump renamed Lake Ontario “Lake America” just after the August tariffs took effect. He has needled Prime Minister Mark Carney more than once. In one AI-generated image he posted, he looms over Carney in a USA hockey jersey. The caption read “Get up, Governor.”