Trump: The North American agreement is irrelevant to the US. Canada desperately wants it.

During his visit to a Ford factory in Michigan, US President Donald Trump criticized the USMCA trade agreement, which, paradoxically, he helped negotiate during his first term in office. He called it "irrelevant" and of no benefit to the US, claiming that Canada is the main party interested in continuing it.

He emphasized that America does not need to import cars from Canada or Mexico, as it wants to and knows how to produce them at home. Trump's comments came just before a planned economic speech in Detroit.

The USMCA agreement, which replaced the original NAFTA in 2020, is to be formally reviewed this year by all three signatory countries.

Although its goal was to improve trade conditions in the region, Trump now claims that the US does not actually benefit from it. He also hinted at his possible intention to change its future form or withdraw from it altogether.

(reuters, pir)