"I'm the best negotiator! But Canada is being mean to me!!"

Trump slams Canada and its team over NAFTA negotiations

By ALEXANDER PANETTA

President Donald Trump on Wednesday took sharp aim at Canada, threatening auto tariffs, expressing disdain for its NAFTA negotiator and declaring that he has refused to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on trade issues.

During a news conference in New York, he said that he is frustrated with what he said was Canada’s stonewalling on the U.S.’ NAFTA demands, including opening up dairy access.

“Canada has treated us very badly,” Trump said during a rare solo news conference.

Trump also stated that he dislikes Canada’s representative — believed to be a reference to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is leading that nation’s NAFTA negotiating team.

By contrast, he praised Mexico’s team amid indications that his administration is preparing to submit to Congress text of a bilateral deal by a U.S.-imposed Sunday deadline.

When asked if he rejected a meeting with Trudeau the president replied: “Yeah, I did.” A Canadian official, however, reiterated today that there was no request for a sit-down at the U.N. General Assembly.

Trump didn’t dismiss the thought of including Canada in the new pact, saying there’s “a good chance still” of a deal with Ottawa.

Representatives from both countries have said they will keep negotiating if they blow past the Sunday target date.

Trump again said that he would tax auto and auto-part imports from Canada if no new NAFTA deal is reached with the nation.

However, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughton, said today at a POLITICO Pro Canada event in Toronto that should Trump impose auto tariffs on Canada, it would be an unprecedented step that would change the countries’ relationship.