Commerce Secretary Lutnick Blasts Canada Trade Strategy: 'They Suck'

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick bluntly told Semafor's World Economy Summit that Canada's trade negotiation strategy "sucks," calling a previous Canadian trade chief's suggestion of slow-walking talks "the worst strategy I've ever heard." The remarks come as Ottawa suspends its federal gas and diesel taxes in response to tariff-driven fuel-price pressure, and as the Trump administration continues to squeeze major trading partners to lock in asymmetric deals. The caustic public tone reveals how thoroughly the U.S.-Canada economic relationship has deteriorated under Trump's second term and signals that Washington sees no reason to soften its line even toward its traditionally closest ally.