Washington (AP) – Canada’s announcement recognises the Palestinian state President Donald Trump said it would “make it extremely difficult” for the US to reach a trade deal with its north neighbours.
Trump’s threat, posted on social media platforms early Thursday, is the latest way he tried to use the trade war to force the country on unrelated issues. And when other allies raised the issue of the Palestinian state, the Republican president was ambiguous.
He said this week that British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer didn’t care. Take a position Britain will recognize the Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire Gazaallowing the United Nations to bring aid and other measures have been taken to ensure long-term peace.
“We have no idea about that,” he later told reporters in Air Force 1.
Last week, the Republican president said Similar moves by French President Emmanuel Macron It was about not changing anything.
But Trump has offered Canada for months It should be in the 51st US stateright now, a similar perception of Prime Minister Mark Carney will become leveraged before the looming deadline set by American leaders in US-Canada trade talks.
“Amazing! Canada has just announced it supports a Palestinian nation,” Trump said in the Truth Social Post. “It would make it very difficult for us to enter into a trade deal with them. Ah Canada!!!”
Trump threatened to impose Canada’s 35% tariff If he fails to reach a deal by Friday, if he does not reach a contract with the US, he says he will collect tariffs on goods from dozens of countries.
A Kearney spokesman declined to comment.
White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt later said Trump “expressed his discomfort and his discomfort with the British and Canadian leaders. He feels that it rewards Hamas when Hamas is a real obstacle to the ceasefire and all the release of hostages.”
Some imports from Canada are still protected by the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada agreement, which will be renegotiated next year.
The announcement of Wednesday’s Kearney is underway Wideer global change in Israeli policy In Gaza.
This week Trump said he “will not take a stand” on his recognition of the Palestinian state, but he later said that such a move would reward Hamas. Surprising, October 7, 2023 Attack on Israel It urged a declaration of war and a massive military retaliation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump’s new embrace against Canada comes later He called for sudden tariffs this week. In Brazil, the former president was indicted. Jair BolsonaroTrump’s allies, who like the US president, face criminal charges for trying to overturn the outcome of his election losses.
Quote Personal complaints about trade talks with Brazil And now, Canada’s iconic announcement about the Palestinian state is A mess of reasons Trump points to trade wars, including stopping human trafficking, stopping fentanyl flow, balancing budgets and protecting US manufacturing.
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Toronto Associated Press Writer Rob Gillies contributed to the report.