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Trudeau: Trump's threat to make Canada the 51st federal state is a distraction
Trudeau calls Trump's threat to make Canada the 51st US state a distraction from the consequences of his tariff policy. He warns of rising prices for US consumers.
Trudeau: Trump's threat to make Canada the 51st federal state is a distraction
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump's comments about turning Canada into the 51st state of the United States are merely a distraction from the consequences of Trump's tariff threats.
Trudeau does not see annexation of Canada
Trudeau, who announced earlier this week that he would step down as prime minister once his party has chosen a successor, said in an interview with Jake Tapper that Canada becoming another U.S. state "is not going to happen."
Distraction from important topics
"President Trump, who is a very skilled negotiator, is distracting people a little bit with this issue to distract from the discussion about the 25% tariffs on oil, gas, electricity, steel, aluminum, wood and concrete," Trudeau told CNN.
Trump's threat of high tariffs
In November, Trump promised massive increases in tariffs on goods originating from Mexico, Canada and China, set to take effect on the first day of his term. “On January 20th, as one of my first executive orders, I will sign all the necessary documents to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada on all products entering the United States,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “This tariff will remain in effect until drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants end this invasion of our country!”
The impact on American consumers
This policy could significantly increase costs for American businesses and consumers, something Trudeau was quick to highlight on Thursday. Canada, Mexico and China are the United States' largest trading partners.
Price increase for Canadian exports
“Everything American consumers buy from Canada will suddenly become much more expensive if he imposes these tariffs,” Trudeau said. He also stressed that Canadians are "incredibly proud to be Canadian. One of the easiest ways we define ourselves is that we're not Americans."