Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs and Calls for Annexation as 51st U.S. State
Amid rising trade tensions, Trump vows a "high price" for Canada over electricity tariffs and threatens steep duties on steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
WatanU.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened Canada with paying a “high price” after the country used electricity as a “bargaining chip,” amid rising tensions over U.S. threats to impose tariffs on Canadian imports.
Trump also instructed the Secretary of Commerce to impose an additional 25% to 50% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from Canada, stating that the new tariffs would take effect on Wednesday.
He further warned of increasing tariffs on imported cars starting April 2 if Canada does not remove its tariffs.
“Canada will pay a high price that history books will record for years to come… They have stooped to a low level by using electricity as a bargaining chip and a threat,” Trump said.
He added, “The new directives are in response to Ontario’s imposition of a 25% tariff on electricity exports to the U.S.,” noting that he would soon declare a state of emergency in the electricity sector.
Trump stressed that Canada must “immediately” drop its tariffs against the United States.
Trump Suggests Canada Should Become the 51st U.S. State
On Monday, Trump reaffirmed that he is serious about his desire for Canada to become the 51st U.S. state.
When asked if the idea of annexing Canada was “a real possibility,” as recently suggested by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump said in an interview broadcast on Sunday, “Yes, it is. I believe Canada would be in a much better position if it became the 51st state, because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I will not let that happen. Why should we pay $200 billion a year as a sort of subsidy to Canada?”
He added that the U.S. does not provide subsidies to Canada but rather buys products from the resource-rich country, including commodities such as oil. While the trade deficit in goods expanded in recent years, reaching $72 billion in 2023, Trump claimed the deficit was largely due to U.S. imports of Canadian energy.
In a previous social media post, Trump stated, “If Canada merged with the United States, there would be no tariffs, taxes would drop significantly, and Canada would be completely safe from the constant threat of Russian and Chinese ships surrounding it.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose high tariffs on Canadian goods. The U.S. is Canada’s largest trading partner, receiving 75% of its exports. Approximately two million of Canada’s 41 million citizens rely on trade with the U.S. for their livelihoods.
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