Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about annexing Canada into the United States as a “distraction” from the looming threat of heavy tariffs. Speaking to CNN on Thursday (local time), Trudeau emphasized that Canada would not become the 51st state of the U.S. and expressed concerns over Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on key Canadian exports.
“President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation to take away from the focus on the 25% tariffs on oil, gas, electricity, steel, aluminum, lumber, and concrete,” Trudeau said in the interview.
Earlier this week, Trudeau announced his decision to step down as Prime Minister and leader of his party once a successor is chosen. His comments came in response to Trump’s threats made on his Truth Social platform, where the U.S. President-elect vowed to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China starting January 20, his first day in office.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on all products coming into the United States and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Trump posted. “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”
Trudeau warned that these tariffs could significantly raise costs for American businesses and consumers, highlighting Canada’s importance as one of the United States’ biggest trade partners. “Everything the American consumers buy from Canada is suddenly going to get a lot more expensive if he moves forward on these tariffs,” he said.
Regarding Trump’s suggestion of incorporating Canada into the U.S., Trudeau firmly rejected the idea, saying Canadians are deeply proud of their national identity. “One of the ways we define ourselves most easily is, well, we’re not American,” he remarked.
The prospect of heightened tariffs has sparked concern in both Canada and the U.S., particularly in industries reliant on cross-border trade. Experts warn that such measures could strain relations between the two countries, disrupt supply chains, and hurt economic growth.
As the January 20 inauguration date approaches, business leaders on both sides of the border are closely monitoring the situation, urging both governments to find common ground and avoid a trade conflict that could have widespread repercussions.
