Trade talks between the United States and Canada have collapsed acrimoniously, raising fears of an escalating tariff war between the two closely linked economies, and highlighting confusion over who really controls Donald Trump's trade policy. US trade representative Jamieson Greer, generally regarded as a calm and capable negotiator, found himself accused by Canadian officials of pushing to weaken legal protections for the French language, a charge he dismissed as a "funny, fake story", though other figures such as commerce secretary Howard Lutnick appear to wield significant influence over the president's approach.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said his country had come "under attack" after a seemingly imminent deal fell apart at the last minute, citing disputes including US objections to Canadian rules requiring streaming firms to fund and promote French-language and Canadian content, which he called a "threat" to French language and culture. Greer, a fluent French speaker, later softened his tone, saying the US government recognised the sensitivity of the issue, but any goodwill was undercut hours later when Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America". Reports suggest the deal was also derailed by Lutnick's objections to elements of the proposed agreement, underscoring how multiple, sometimes competing, voices are shaping Trump's aggressive trade agenda.