1 week Ago
Claim 1: "We don't do much business with Canada"
Trump suggested that Canada accounts for just 4% of U.S. trade, saying, "We don't do much business with Canada from our standpoint." However, U.S. government data tells a different story. Canada was the largest buyer of American exports in both February and March 2025, accounting for about 17% of total U.S. goods exports. In January, Canada was second only to Mexico, making up about 16%.
In total, Canada purchased approximately $440 billion worth of American goods and services in 2024—more than any other country. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative confirms that Canada was the top destination for U.S. exports and the third-largest source of U.S. imports last year. Prime Minister Carney's response, "We are the largest client of the United States," is supported by official statistics.
Claim 2: "We're subsidizing Canada to the tune of maybe $200 billion per year"
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. "subsidizes" Canada by $200 billion annually, often referencing the trade deficit. However, this figure is highly inflated. According to official U.S. data:
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The total trade deficit with Canada in 2024 (including both goods and services) was about $36 billion.
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The goods-only trade deficit was higher, at around $71 billion, but still far below the $200 billion claimed.
Even if Trump were including other, undefined forms of support or financial exchange, there is no evidence or official data to support a $200 billion "subsidy."
Conclusion
Trump's statements about U.S. trade with Canada significantly misrepresent the facts. Canada remains a critical trade partner, not a minor player, and claims of massive "subsidies" are unsupported by government data.
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