JD Vance calls Canada a U.S. state in ‘Freudian slip,’ vows to fight back against ‘ridiculous tariffs’

U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at CompoTech, a defense technology and advanced manufacturing company, in Brewer, Maine on August 24, 2026. Photo by ANNA MONEYMAKER /POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Article content

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has accused Canada of “unfair” trade practices and vows the U.S. will “fight back” after trade negotiations fell apart last week.

Article content

Vance made the comments in a question-and-answer session following a speech he gave at a manufacturing company in Brewer, Maine, on Monday. When asked about tariff negotiations, Vance said that “Canada and China have been the two worst countries when it comes to trade policy anywhere in the world.”

Article content

Article content

Article content

While he said he expected this from China, given the country is the U.S.’s “biggest economic competitor,” the U.S. vice president said he did not expect Canada to apply tariffs to Maine and other northern states.

Article content

Article content

“They apply ridiculous tariffs and other non-tariff duties on Maine products coming into Canada, and they don’t expect Maine or anybody else to fight back,” he said.

Article content

“We’re sick of that. We are actually going to fight back against unfair trade practices, whether it’s coming from China or Canada.”

Article content

Giving an example of these “unfair” practices, Vance said: “If you buy dairy, cheese, butter, milk that comes from Canada into Maine, you probably are buying a product that has zero per cent tariffs on it…but if a Maine farmer sends dairy products into Canada, they could be paying as much as a 250 per cent tariff.”

Article content

High Canadian tariffs on dairy only apply if the agreed tariff-rate quotas on U.S. imports under CUSMA are reached or exceeded. Last year, Global News reported that U.S. dairy imports to Canada were yet to go over their quotas for these tariffs to come into effect, despite Canada being the second-highest importer of U.S. dairy products in 2025.

Article content

Article content

Vance added that “(Canada) treat(s) Chinese goods more fairly” than goods coming from Maine and, when trade negotiators asked Canada to “stop it,” Vance claimed Canada “came in with a bunch of unreasonable demands.”

Article content

Article content

Vance concluded by saying: “We need to send a message loud and clear to the Prime Minister of Canada: Stop taking advantage of the people of Maine. Stop taking advantage of America. It’s over.”

Article content

Vance also referred to Canada as a “state” — echoing Trump’s “51st state” rhetoric — though he said the comment was a “Freudian slip.” He also said Canada “would get invaded by a foreign country were it not for the protection provided” by the U.S.

Article content

His comments come shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian autos and trucks, starting Jan. 1.

Article content

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, the U.S. President wrote: “On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50%.”

Article content

He added, “Canada will be treated like a State no longer!” and called it one of the most “entitled” countries to deal with in terms of trade.