President Donald Trump is doubling down on his tariff strategy, saying it's the reason the U.S. auto industry is thriving. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, he claimed that before his tariffs, Ford Motor Co. Ford (F) was planning to shut down a Detroit plant. But because he was leading in the polls, the company decided to keep it open and see what happened. Now, he says, that plant is "running 24/7" and is "one of the most profitable Car Plants" in the world.
Trump didn't stop there. He said other manufacturers, including General Motors Co. General Motors (GM), have similar success stories, though he didn't provide specifics. "I've revived, and indeed saved, the Automobile Business in our America," he declared.
His Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, has been singing a similar tune, crediting tariffs with bringing back auto manufacturing jobs and highlighting investments by Ford and Toyota Motor Corp Toyota (TM).
Canada: The "Worst" Trade Abuser
But the real fireworks were reserved for Canada. Trump called it "one of the worst abusers" of trade, and he wasn't mincing words: "I don't want Canadian cars, I don't want Canadian parts, I don't want Canadian anything." He accused the country of "ripping us off for decades" and said it's time to stop.
He also took a swipe at past administrations, saying this should have been done long ago, just like stopping Iran. And he reiterated his gripe that Canada wants to be treated like a state without actually being one. This comes after Trump threatened 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, which prompted Canada to retaliate with its own tariffs.
"I deal with the Leadership of many Countries, but I find Canada to be the worst," he said, taking aim at the Mark Carney-led government. "They are entitled no longer."
Officials Clash Over What's on the Table
Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada was offered the "best deal" compared to other countries. He also clarified that talks on medium- and heavy-duty truck tariffs were separate from the Section 232 tariffs under consideration for relief.
Lutnick, for his part, accused Carney of walking away from the talks for political reasons, pointing to Canada's upcoming elections. He also disputed Canadian officials' claims about French-language issues. And he maintained that medium- and heavy-duty trucks weren't part of the negotiations until the final hours, a claim Canada's chief negotiator disputes.
So, the trade war with Canada continues, with both sides digging in. Trump is convinced his tariffs are working, and he's not shy about saying so. Whether the auto industry's revival is truly thanks to tariffs or just good timing remains a matter of debate, but one thing's for sure: Trump is taking full credit.
