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JD Vance calls Canada a U.S. state in 'Freudian slip,' vows to fight back against 'ridiculous tariffs'
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has accused Canada of “unfair” trade practices and vows the U.S. will “fight back” after trade negotiations fell apart last week.
Vance made the comments in a question-and-answer session following a speech he gave at a manufacturing company in Brewer, Maine, on Monday. When asked about tariff negotiations, Vance said that “Canada and China have been the two worst countries when it comes to trade policy anywhere in the world.”
While he said he expected this from China, given the country is the U.S.’s “biggest economic competitor,” the U.S. vice president said he did not expect Canada to apply tariffs to Maine and other northern states.
“They apply ridiculous tariffs and other non-tariff duties on Maine products coming into Canada, and they don’t expect Maine or anybody else to fight back,” he said.
“We’re sick of that. We are actually going to fight back against unfair trade practices, whether it’s coming from China or Canada.”
Giving an example of these “unfair” practices, Vance said: “If you buy dairy, cheese, butter, milk that comes from Canada into Maine, you probably are buying a product that has zero per cent tariffs on it…but if a Maine farmer sends dairy products into Canada, they could be paying as much as a 250 per cent tariff.”
High Canadian tariffs on dairy only apply if the agreed tariff-rate quotas on U.S. imports under CUSMA are reached or exceeded. Last year, Global News reported that U.S. dairy imports to Canada were yet to go over their quotas for these tariffs to come into effect, despite Canada being the second-highest importer of U.S. dairy products in 2025 .
Vance added that “(Canada) treat(s) Chinese goods more fairly” than goods coming from Maine and, when trade negotiators asked Canada to “stop it,” Vance claimed Canada “came in with a bunch of unreasonable demands.”
Vance concluded by saying: “We need to send a message loud and clear to the Prime Minister of Canada: Stop taking advantage of the people of Maine. Stop taking advantage of America. It’s over.”
Vance also referred to Canada as a “state” — echoing Trump’s “51st state” rhetoric — though he said the comment was a “Freudian slip.” He also said Canada “would get invaded by a foreign country were it not for the protection provided” by the U.S.
His comments come shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian autos and trucks, starting Jan. 1.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, the U.S. President wrote: “On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50%.”
He added, “Canada will be treated like a State no longer!” and called it one of the most “entitled” countries to deal with in terms of trade.
Canada and the U.S. were close to a potential trade agreement on Friday, but Prime Minister Mark Carney walked away from negotiations , citing unfair last-minute demands and accusing the U.S. administration of introducing measures that would restrict Canada’s ability to do deals with other countries.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, the PM said that Canada is now “at war” after being “attacked” by Trump’s steep tariffs.
As a result of the collapsed negotiations, 50 per cent tariffs came into effect at midnight on Saturday, impacting $28 billion worth of Canadian goods. In response, Carney has pledged dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs that will hit the U.S. starting Sept. 8.
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