‘When you move back, there are no tariffs’: Trump makes an offer to Canadian companies

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has taken his fight with Canada in a new direction, publicly urging Canadian companies to move their operations to the United States and promising them a simple incentive: “When you move back, there are no TARIFFS!”

In two posts, Trump paired the recruitment pitch with a sweeping attack on Canada, calling it one of the “worst Abusers” of the United States and claiming American factories and auto jobs were already returning.

The remarks come after trade talks between Washington and Ottawa collapsed, with both countries moving toward new tariffs and countermeasures.

Trump points to Detroit factories

Trump began by revisiting the start of his 2024 presidential campaign, claiming Ford was preparing to close its Big Factor plant in Detroit because of his lead in the polls. 

He said the company kept the facility open longer to see what would happen and argued that the plant is now “24/7” and among the world’s most profitable. 

He also cited Ford and General Motors as examples of companies he said had been “revived and saved,” adding that the US automobile business had been restored because of his tariff policies.

Trump did not provide further details in the post about the specific changes at the Detroit facility.

His administration has made bringing manufacturing back to the United States a central argument for its tariff strategy.

Canada becomes Trump’s latest target

The president then turned his attention squarely to America’s northern neighbor, saying he did not want Canadian cars, land or “anything” from Canada.

“They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop,” Trump wrote, adding that previous presidents should have acted sooner.

Trump also complained that Canada did not want to be “treated like a State,” before saying he deals with the leadership of many countries but finds Canada “the worst.”

His comments follow a sharp deterioration in relations between the two longtime allies after negotiations over a trade agreement broke down.

He links tariffs to Iran

Trump briefly expanded his argument beyond North America, writing that “just stopping Iran should have happened long ago.” 

The comment appeared alongside his broader defense of tariffs and his claim that earlier administrations had failed to take action against countries he believes took advantage of the United States.

The posts did not elaborate on how Trump connected his Iran policy to the dispute with Canada, but they reflected his wider argument that his administration is taking a tougher approach toward foreign governments than previous presidents.

A direct invitation across border

Trump also addressed Canadian companies in a separate post, saying businesses that move to the United States would face “no tariffs.”

“Let all Canadian Companies that are doing business with America move to the United States, immediately,” he wrote, saying some companies had originally moved out because of what he called “stupid US Leadership.”

His offer comes as tariffs are becoming a growing concern for businesses on both sides of the border.

Canada has announced retaliatory measures and support for workers and companies affected by the dispute.