WASHINGTON � President Donald Trump on Friday demanded Canada "open their markets and take down their trade barriers!" as he threatened more tariffs against America's northern neighbor.
Trump alleged in a tweet that Canada has "treated our Agricultural business and Farmers very poorly for a very long period of time," calling the Canadian government "Highly restrictive on Trade!"
He singled out the timber and lumber industries.
The tweet came after Trump issued a warning to Canadian officials on Thursday evening, saying he could be on the brink of ending talks about revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"The United States has been taken advantage of for many decades on trade. Those days are over," Trump said in a statement. "Earlier today, this message was conveyed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada: The United State(s) will agree to a fair deal, or there will be no deal at all."
His threats and demands come as his administration abruptly slapped steel and aluminum tariffs on its closest allies, including Canada.
Many of those allies announced their intention to retaliate, prompting warnings from Republican and Democratic lawmakers that Trump was on the brink of starting a trade war that could damage the U.S. and global economies.
Trump's chief economic adviser Lawrence Kudlow on Friday said the U.S. is not in a trade war with its closest allies like Europe, Canada and Mexico. But he made clear that Trump expects those countries to bend toward his policies and demands.
"I'm just saying, 'Let's talk.' This is something of a family disagreement," Kudlow told CNBC. "This is not a trade war. It's a trade discussion. But we need the help of our friends. And our model is working. Theirs is not."
He contended the Trump administration's economic policies have the U.S. economy humming and growing while Europe is collectively in a "doldrum."
"We'd welcome the Europeans to follow our lead," he said, touting the administration's policies of tax cuts, deregulation moves and push for "fair trade" policies. He called for America's allies to "engage us in a discussion about a lot of unfair trade practices. They're our allies _ and I know they'd get that."
Despite a row with the Canadian government, Kudlow said senior Trump administration officials still intend to participate in a G7 summit next week in Quebec. But he said it is unclear whether Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will go to China as planned for another round of trade talks.
