US pauses water-sharing negotiations with Canada over Columbia River

Break in talks comes as Trump escalates trade war with Canada and threatens its sovereignty

The United States has paused negotiations with Canada on a key water-sharing treaty as Donald Trump continues both his threats to annex his northern neighbour and to upend major agreements governing relations between the two counties.

British Columbia's energy ministry said officials south of the border were conducting a broad review" of the Columbia River Treaty, the 61-year-old pact that governs transnational flood control, power generation and water supply.