On the basis of low NATO contributions and $200–250 billion in US subsidies, President-elect Trump suggested making Canada the 51st state. Reiterating sovereignty and threatening retaliation if tariffs are applied, PM Trudeau earlier dismissed the comments as a diversion.
Donald Trump, the incoming president, has proposed that Canada become the 51st state, arguing that it should do so for defensive and economic reasons. "I called them Governor Trudeau because they should be the 51st state, really," Trump stated while speaking from Palm Beach, Florida. It would be an excellent state. Additionally, Canadians enjoy it. They pay less in taxes. Their military is essentially nonexistent. Less than 1 percent is what they pay. They are among NATO's lowest payers."From the perspective of the United States, we're subsidizing Canada," Trump said, arguing that the US significantly subsidizes Canada. Between $200 to $250 billion annually. Our deficits are enormous. About 20% of our auto business has been taken over by them. I prefer to do it here. Tariffs could be applied to them. Tariffs on them are not yet in place, but they will be.
Trump claimed to have challenged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pointing out Canada's need on US assistance, saying, "I said, why are we subsidizing you $200 and $250 billion a year? "I really don't know," he said. "Well, I don't know either," I replied. What would happen to Canada if we didn't? I asked. If it occurred, Canada would be destroyed, he added.Then Canada ought to be the 51st state, I responded. And we are now there."
"We don't need Canada for lumber because we have big forests that we have...we don't need anything," Trump added, dismissing the necessity of Canadian imports. Their fuel is not necessary for us. Their energy is not necessary for us. Their gas and oil are not necessary for us. We don't require anything they own.
In response, Trudeau
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, dismissed Trump's comments as a distraction. "What I think is happening in this is President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation," Trudeau said on CNN.
"Oil and gas and electricity and steel and aluminum and lumber and concrete and everything the American consumers buy from Canada (are) suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs," Trudeau said, underscoring the possible effects of US tariffs.
There was "not a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada would join the US, Trudeau said, reiterating Canada's sovereignty. He also stated that Ottawa would take countermeasures if needed. He brought up the 2018 trade battle, in which Canada levied taxes on goods like Harley Davidson motorcycles, playing cards, and Heinz ketchup.
"But we don't want to do that because it drives up prices for Canadians and it harms our closest trading partner," he stated.
Another chapter in Trump's aggressive approach to US-Canada relations is the growing rhetoric around calls for Canada to become the 51st state in the US. This raises concerns about the future of bilateral ties under his possible leadership.
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