U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ripped a leak of controversial comments he made amid critical ongoing free trade talks with Canada.
"I made OFF THE RECORD COMMENTS to Bloomberg concerning Canada, and this powerful understanding was BLATANTLY VIOLATED," Trump fumed on Twitter. "Just more dishonest reporting. I am used to it. At least Canada knows where I stand!"
The Toronto Star newspaper reported Friday that Trump told Bloomberg News journalists on Thursday he is not making any concessions to Canada amid talks aimed at renegotiating a decades-old trilateral free trade pact.
Trump said he could not make the remarks publicly because 鈥渋t鈥檚 going to be so insulting they鈥檙e not going to be able to make a deal.鈥�
He intended the comments to be off the record. It is unclear how the Star obtained them.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 the problem. If I say no 鈥� the answer鈥檚 no. If I say no, then you鈥檙e going to put that, and it鈥檚 going to be so insulting they鈥檙e not going to be able to make a deal ... I can鈥檛 kill these people,鈥� he said, referring to the Canadian government.
The president added that any prospective deal with Ottawa would be made 鈥渢otally on our terms.鈥�
Canada's top trade negotiator is set to address reporters at 4:30 p.m. (2030GMT) following a full day of bilateral trade talks.
By Michael Hernandez
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr