U.S. President Donald Trump would “rather be independent,” he asserted Tuesday in response to a question on whether he plans to “update” the free trade pact with Canada and Mexico after threatening a range of new tariffs.
The question came when Trump called in to Fox News for a live interview Tuesday morning. Fox & Friends co-Host Steve Doocy asked the president if he was looking to “update” the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA. The U.S. opted not to renew it last month, triggering a review process.
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“I don’t care. I mean I don’t really want to. I’d rather be independent,” responded the president, after extolling the virtues of his tariff regime, which he said has pushed Toyota to spend billions on auto plants in the U.S. in order to reduce duties.
“Mexico and Canada need us, we don’t need them,” he also said, adding CUSMA is “not important for us.”
It’s not the first time Trump has taken this tone. In June, Trump told reporters he wasn’t looking to renew the deal and said “we don’t need anything” Canada nor Mexico has. At the time, CTV News political commentator Tom Mulcair chalked it as a negotiating tactic and “typical Donald Trump bluster.”
In 2024, the U.S. imported US$412 billion worth of goods from Canada. In 2025, it imported US$382 billion. From January to May 2026, Canadian exports to the U.S. have amounted to US$163 billion.
A new round of tariffs
U.S.-Canada Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is headed to Washington this week, CTV News learned Monday. He’ll be joined by Canada’s chief trade negotiator to the United States, Janice Charette. LeBlanc’s press secretary did not specify with whom the minister will meet.
The trip comes days after Trump announced new tariffs on Canada last week, citing discontent with provincial bans on U.S. alcohol, supply management on dairy, and certain tariffs and quotas on cars. Wine, hockey sticks, cement and a long list of other goods will face a 50 per cent tariffs next month. He also announced new tariffs on Canada and others, citing forced labour, on Thursday.
CUSMA has previously shielded Canada from the bulk of Trump’s tariffs, which have been levied against countries around the world. The White House wrote in an exception in previous tariff amendments to goods that fall under CUSMA. Trump left that caveat out for the 50 per cent tariffs slated for August.
Most Canadians want counter-tariffs
A survey released Sunday found Canadians are resolute against tariffs. Just seven per cent of those surveyed said Canada should “capitulate to U.S. demands” to avoid tariffs, according to the Angus Reid Institute. Sixty-two per cent want counter-tariffs, though they were split on whether those should match the American regime, or be more limited.
Forty-three per cent of Canadians appear confident Prime Minister Mark Carney can deliver a “good” deal with the U.S., down from 51 per cent in April. Even when Canada and the U.S. reach a deal, 75 per cent don’t think Trump will stick to it.
Late last week, Carney said his government will do “whatever it takes to defend and support our families, our workers and our businesses.” He did not rule out retaliation if an agreement is not reachable.
With files from Spencer van Dyk
