Trump says Canada wants 'benefits' of being US state after trade talks collapse
Sunday, 23 August 2026
Warm-up
- What products from abroad are common in your country?
- Have you ever paid more because of import taxes?
- What makes two countries good trade partners?
Vocabulary
- tariff
- A tax that a government puts on goods coming from another country.
- retaliate
- To act against someone because they acted against you first.
- collapse
- To fail suddenly after efforts to keep going.
- levy
- To charge an official tax or fee on something.
- negotiation
- A formal discussion to try to reach an agreement.
- restrictive
- Limiting what someone is allowed to do.
- curb
- To control or reduce something.
- representative
- A person who speaks or acts for a group or country.
Reading
US President Donald Trump said Canada wants "the benefits of being a State, without being one" after trade talks collapsed late on Friday. The breakdown in negotiations triggered new 50% US tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, called the move a miscalculation and said Canada will retaliate "dollar-for-dollar" from 8 September, with levies on key goods. He said the countries are now in a trade war.
Both sides had been close to a deal earlier in the week, but each accused the other of last-minute changes. Canada said the US offer was too restrictive and would curb its ability to make trade deals with other countries. A US representative, Jamieson Greer, said there are no plans to resume talks.
The new US tariffs cover about $20bn of Canadian imports, around 5% in total, and add to existing duties on steel, aluminium, automobiles and lumber. Talks have been going on for more than a year and have intensified in recent weeks. Critics say tariffs have been raising prices for American consumers.
Comprehension
- What did Trump say Canada wants after the talks collapsed?
- What is the rate of the new US tariffs on Canadian goods?
- From when and how will Canada retaliate?
- Why did Canada reject the US offer, according to the text?
- What did the US representative say about future talks?
Grammar focus
Present perfect continuous
Use have/has + been + verb-ing for actions that started in the past and are still continuing now.
- Talks have been going on for more than a year and have intensified in recent weeks.
- Critics say tariffs have been raising prices for American consumers.
Grammar exercise
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- Officials (negotiate) ___ the terms for several weeks now.
- Critics (warn) ___ that prices are rising since June.
- The prime minister (work) ___ on a response since last Monday.
- Observers (report) ___ increasing tensions between the two countries this month.
- Companies (change) ___ their orders because of the new duties over the past weeks.
Discussion
- Are tariffs a good way to protect jobs? Why or why not?
- How might higher prices change your shopping choices?
- Should Canada resume talks soon or wait? Explain your view.
- What products in your country could be hit hardest by tariffs?
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