Navarro blasts Canada after trade talks collapse

After the trade talks collapsed, President Donald Trump announced tariffs on up to 50% on key Canadian imports, which prompted retaliatory tariffs from Canada.

Published: August 28, 2026 10:23am

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro this week excoriated the Canadian government after the collapse of trade talks with the U.S. led to an escalation of tariffs on both sides.

Ottawa and Washington had been set to complete a trade deal last weekend, but American trade officials have indicated that Canada demanded additional concessions. Navarro, for his part, told NewsNation that Canada "will stab you in the back" after the deal collapsed.

He further indicated that the U.S. had sought to offer Canada a favorable agreement, but that Canadian officials were acting in bad faith.

“This time, we gave them a really good deal. And then they try to retrade it,” he said.  “And then Carney starts talking his smack and Doug Ford starts talking his smack.”

After the trade talks collapsed, President Donald Trump announced tariffs of up to 50% on key Canadian imports, which prompted retaliatory tariffs from Canada.

Trump later signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America."

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.

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