Washington: US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Sunday labeled Canada's decision to engage in a trade confrontation with President Donald Trump as a 'foolish' strategic error that could ultimately devastate the Canadian economy. Duffy remarked on Fox News that Canada's belief in winning a trade conflict with the US was misguided.

According to Anadolu Agency, Duffy argued that Canada benefits significantly more from bilateral trade than the US and accused Ottawa of exploiting American security guarantees. He criticized Canada's lack of a substantial military and its single-payer healthcare system, which he described as failing. Duffy predicted that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would return to negotiations "very, very quickly" once the full impact of US tariffs becomes apparent.

The verbal exchange comes in the wake of Trump's comments on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he claimed that Canada "wants the benefits of being a State, without being one." Trump also accused Canada of imposing high tariffs on American agricultural products.

Prime Minister Carney recently described the trade situation as being "at war," accusing the US of trying to "hurt and divide" Canada through tariff escalation. He announced plans to implement dollar-for-dollar retaliatory measures starting September 8, following the halt in trade talks.

While US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer claimed that Canada walked away from a nearly completed agreement, Carney insisted that Washington's demands were unacceptable.