Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada
President Donald Trump said Friday he is “terminating” all trade discussions with Canada, effective immediately, because of its Digital Services Tax, and that he would announce new tariffs on the country within the next seven days.“We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with … has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
The decision came after Canada refused to delay the implementation of the tax for 30 days while the two countries negotiate a trade deal, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Friday afternoon on Fox Business Network. “They’re taxing American companies who don’t necessarily even have a presence in Canada,” Hassett said, calling the tax “almost criminal.”
A White House official said the president was “rightfully” angry. “We had been negotiating with Canada for them to lower their trade barriers, and then they go and erect a brand new one,” said the official, who was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. “So it’s obviously not helping their case.”
First payments are due Monday, but because the bill applies retroactively, U.S. companies such as Amazon, Google and Meta could be faced with a bill up to $3 billion, according to the Computer & Communications Industry Association.
Read about it... and Canada taking advantgage of American corporations with a Digital tax.
