Trump says the U.S. doesn't need to import oil, natural gas, cars, or lumber from Canada

As Ottawa promises to retaliate against U.S. trade tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump has launched new attacks on Canada.

Speaking Thursday in his first address to world leaders since returning to the White House, Trump said the U.S. does not need to import oil, gas, cars, or lumber from its northern ally.

In a video address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump firmly threatened tariffs while sharply criticizing Canada. He said: Canada has been tough to deal with for years, and we shouldn't have a $200 billion or $250 billion deficit. It's not fair.

We don't need them to make our cars. They make a lot of cars. We don't need their lumber because we have our own forests.

We don't need their oil and gas. We have more than anybody.

This was Trump's first address to global business and political leaders in four days as president, while global markets and Canadian political leaders remain nervous about his plans to impose sweeping trade penalties on all imports.

Trump characterized the trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada as hostile and unfair, blaming Canada's import policies for the U.S. trade deficit.

Trump listed the rapid changes he has made since being sworn in on Monday and promised to lower inflation through tariffs, deregulation, and tax cuts. He said producers must make their goods in the U.S. or face tariffs.

Trump's remarks drew widespread criticism from Canadian politicians, many of whom remain divided on how best to fend off the threat of sweeping trade tariffs.

In Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith advocates for diplomacy over retaliation threats. Smith just returned from a five-day visit to Washington, D.C., and held a personal meeting with Trump at his home in Florida.

A statement from Smith's office reiterated that Premier Smith believes Alberta's energy sector is key to ongoing negotiations, and that cross-border trade in oil and gas is crucial to advancing North American energy dominance.

Smith's press secretary said in a statement that Smith was on a flight to Alberta on Thursday and her position remains unchanged: diplomacy is the best defense.

Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney disputed Trump's remarks about closing the border to oil and gas exports, calling them bizarre. In an interview Thursday, Kenney said the U.S. relies heavily on Canadian energy exports, and Trump previously indicated approval of major cross-border energy projects. Recently, Trump called for reviving the stalled Keystone XL pipeline, which was expected to transport oil from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest.

Kenney believes Trump's tariff strategy simply doesn't make sense. He also noted that Canada should not rule out retaliatory measures against Trump's new tariffs, but urged Canadian federal and provincial leaders to remain tactful as negotiations continue.

Kenney said: We should be strong, united, and have deliberate ambiguity. We shouldn't show all our cards transparently.

Source: CBC News