U.S. President Donald Trump took more jabs at Canada on Tuesday – this time threatening to remove Canadian products from government contracts in response to the country’s retaliatory tariffs which came into effect at midnight.
In a social media post, Trump said he would direct his trade representatives and the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversees federal contracts, to “take all necessary steps” to remove Canadian-origin products “unless Canada restores full and fair reciprocity for American Farmers and Companies.”
“This should have been cut off years ago, by other Administrations, like it was by mine, only to [be] reinstituted by Sleepy Joe Biden,” he added.
Trump claims “the Canadian Government, including Canadian Provinces, have banned American Small Businesses and Companies from selling into their Government Procurement Markets.”
He said “that is not reciprocity, it is a Canadian Trade Scam.”
In his post, Trump seemed to be referring to Ottawa’s “Buy Canadian Policy,” which was launched after the president targeted Canada with tariffs and threats of annexation.
The United States also has a “Buy America” policy that prioritizes domestic purchasing in key sectors.
With files from The Canadian Press.
