US President Trump Hits Canada on Trade, Says Oil Continues to Flow Through Strait of Hormuz

US President Trump, at a White House press conference, aimed his trade rhetoric at Canada while also commenting on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. He insisted that Canada has been taking advantage of the US on trade, even suggesting that Canada wants to be "treated like a state," a remark that underscores Washington's hardline stance in trade negotiations.

**Fresh Tough Words on Trade with Canada**

Trump's latest comments mark a further escalation in US-Canada trade friction. He did not unveil specific new trade measures at the press conference, but his analogy of Canada to a US state will undoubtedly heighten tensions between the two countries. Market sources indicate that such aggressive political rhetoric often foreshadows potential tariff or trade restriction actions, and investors are closely monitoring the stability of the North American trade agreement.

**"Continuous Flow" in the Strait of Hormuz**

While criticizing Canada on trade, Trump mentioned that oil in the Strait of Hormuz is "continuously flowing." This statement contrasts with his earlier remarks that "the US does not need the Strait of Hormuz." According to retrieved background information, Trump reiterated in a national address on April 2 that the US does not need the strait and demanded that countries relying on its oil imports either clear the strait themselves or switch to purchasing US oil. The strait carries roughly 25% of global seaborne oil trade, and since the regional conflict erupted, Brent crude prices once spiked to $119, while reported vessel transits through the strait have plunged by over 90%. Trump's emphasis on the "continuous flow" of oil may be aimed at reassuring markets over concerns of energy supply disruptions.

**The Dual Game of Energy and Trade**

Trump's remarks juxtapose the US-Canada trade dispute with geopolitical risks in the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting a dual game in the US approach to the global economic order. On one hand, he is applying maximum pressure on traditional ally Canada to reshape trade rules in his favor; on the other, he is sending contradictory signals on a critical energy chokepoint—downplaying its importance to the US while stressing that oil is still flowing—to sustain his energy export strategy. Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has warned that control of the Strait of Hormuz not only determines oil price trends but also affects whether the US-led global order can survive.