Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that trade negotiations with the United States could resume if the Trump administration takes a more serious approach to discussions.

“When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,” Carney told reporters.

U.S.-Canada trade talks collapsed on Aug. 21 after Ottawa rejected what Carney described as unacceptable last-minute demands from Washington. Since then, President Donald Trump has continued criticizing Canada online, including posting memes and signing an executive order directing the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

Carney said Canada remains open to a mutually beneficial trade agreement but rejected terms he said could weaken major Canadian industries, particularly the automotive sector.

The dispute has also expanded beyond trade negotiations, with Canadian officials criticizing remarks and social media posts from members of the Trump administration. Carney said some of the recent comments were “beneath their office.”

Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods following the collapse of negotiations, while Canada is preparing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods beginning Sept. 8.

Carney said Ottawa is still willing to return to the negotiating table, but insisted Washington must change its approach before meaningful discussions can continue.