OTTAWA – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said “apocalyptic language” will not help resolve a trade fight over Canadian lumber but offered no promise Tuesday that the United States will repay billions in tariffs that Canada claims were collected improperly.

Asked whether she came to the Canadian capital with a check for the disputed $3.5 billion, Rice said, “I don’t travel with that kind of money …

“I think it’s extremely important not to speak in apocalyptic language on this,” Rice said, noting that lumber is only a small part of U.S.-Canadian trade.

She showed a flash of anger when asked why other nations should trust the word of the United States if it reneges on trade agreements.

“I think the word of the United States has been as good as gold,” Rice said at a press conference with Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew.