U.S. President Donald Trump says he rejected a request for a one-on-one NAFTA meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week because CanadaB次元官网网址檚 tariffs are too high and the countryB次元官网网址檚 trade negotiators have refused to budge.

Trump made the comments late Wednesday as part of a free-wheeling news conference at the end of the United Nations General Assembly.

B次元官网网址淵eah, I did,B次元官网网址� Trump said when asked whether he rejected a meeting with Trudeau on the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

B次元官网网址淗is tariffs are too high and he doesnB次元官网网址檛 seem to want to move. And IB次元官网网址檝e told him, forget about it.B次元官网网址�

In his response, Trump also complained about CanadaB次元官网网址檚 negotiators and appeared to make a specific reference to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland B次元官网网址� who has been TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 NAFTA point person since talks began 13 months ago.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada B次元官网网址� we donB次元官网网址檛 like their representative very much,B次元官网网址� Trump said.

Shortly after TrumpB次元官网网址檚 news conference, the Prime MinisterB次元官网网址檚 Office disputed the presidentB次元官网网址檚 statement B次元官网网址� insisting it did not request a meeting. TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 office declined further comment.

Trump reiterated his threat to slap Canadian auto imports to the U.S. with tariffs, which experts say would devastate industries in both countries.

B次元官网网址淎nd, frankly, weB次元官网网址檙e thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the motherlode, thatB次元官网网址檚 the big one.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Press