US trade chief blames Canada as tariff dispute escalates
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer blamed Canada for the collapse of trade talks, calling the tariffs' impact minimal.
Two days after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, the top US trade official blamed Canada for the failure of negotiations and sought to minimize the measures' impact on American consumers.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the tariffs cover only about 5% of Canadian exports to the US — roughly $20 billion in goods, from agricultural products to hockey sticks — and just 0.06% of overall US consumption.
"The vast majority of goods that our small businesses trade in are made in the USA or they're duty free," Greer said. "So this is something where we don't actually expect a huge impact."
Greer said Canadian officials had approached Washington about 30 days ago seeking negotiations, but those talks fell apart. He noted that Canada suspended the discussions on Friday, a move the US respects.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded on Saturday by vowing "dollar for dollar" retaliation, with measures set to begin on September 8. Greer declined to detail US countermeasures, saying options are being prepared for the president.
He also pointed to ongoing talks with Mexico, whose trade minister is due in Washington on Tuesday, describing those discussions as constructive.