Canadian PM Carney tells Trump administration to 'stop posting memes' in row over trade negotiations

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the Trump administration Tuesday that trade talks could resume if Washington is serious about coming to an agreement, but he accused the U.S. of pursuing terms that would leave Canadian industries "wiped out." 

Carney also told the administration to "stop doing memes, stop throwing shade and stop trying to be tough." 

“It’s not constructive, but that’s their democracy," Carney said, the Associated Press reported. 

Carney said the U.S. approach to the talks would have made Canadian industries de-facto subsidiaries of American companies or imposed terms under which they would be “gradually wound down in Canada and wiped out.” These were terms Canada could not accept, the prime minister said. 

He also said that key industries, including autos, would be uncompetitive under the U.S. proposal, and it pushed for changes affecting French-language and cultural protections. Washington also sought limits on future trade deals, which would go against the country's sovereignty.