In a surprising move, especially after the recent pleasant diplomatic exchange between the two neighbours, President Donald Trump trained his guns on Canada saying the nation has been "very rough on the United States".
"People don't realize, Canada has been very rough on the United States. Everyone thinks of Canada as being wonderful, and so do I. I love Canada. But they've outsmarted our politicians for many years, and you people understand that," he said.
His attacking comment came during the signing of an executive order promoting agriculture and rural prosperity in the America.
During the White House press briefing with reporters later in the day, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that new tariffs on Canada related to dairy and lumber trade were not the result of a personality clash between Trudeau and Trump, but only the administration holding Canada accountable in what they're calling an unfair advantage for lumber subsidies.
Signing the executive order, Trump said: "We don't want to be taken advantage of by other countries -- and that's stopping and that's stopping fast."
Earlier in the day, Trump accused Canada of making business for American dairy farmers in Wisconsin and other border states very difficult.
"Canada has made business for our dairy farmers in Wisconsin and other border states very difficult. We will not stand for this. Watch!" Trump tweeted.
Trump's tweet comes a day after his administration said that it would impose a roughly 20 percent tariff on softwood lumber imported from the country.
Trump had last week in Wisconsin, promised to stand up for the state's dairy farmers, and singled out Canada for doing "some very unfair things.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)