Donald Trump threatens trade talks over Canada's intent to recognize Palestinian state [View all]

Source: Toronto Star

OTTAWA—U.S. President Donald Trump says Canada’s plan to recognize a State of Palestine will hinder his ability to reach a trade deal with Ottawa the day before his August tariff deadline.

“Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh’ Canada!!!,” Trump posted in his Truth Social account shortly after midnight early Thursday morning.

Almost a day earlier on Wednesday, the U.S. President had posted that “THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE — IT STANDS STRONG, AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED. A BIG DAY FOR AMERICA!!!”

Late Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada intends to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. That commitment is predicated on whether the Palestinian Authority, the governing body in the occupied West Bank, agrees to a series of reforms, such as holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can have no role and ensuring that a Palestinian state is demilitarized. The prime minister spoke to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, on Wednesday and said he had agreed to the conditions.

Read more: https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/donald-trump-threatens-trade-talks-over-canadas-intent-to-recognize-palestinian-state/article_55bc4d7b-674e-48d9-922a-c849640a0963.html