The winner of the US presidential election, Donald Trump, at a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said that if the Canadian economy cannot withstand new tariffs, then perhaps it would be better for it to become the 51st American state, Fox News reported, citing two sources. those present during the conversation.
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“President-elect Trump suggested to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week that if a tariff for failure to deal with trade and migration problems destroys the economy of its northern neighbor, then maybe it (Canada) should become the 51st state,” – the TV channel reports.
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The future American leader told Trudeau that Canada had “failed” its neighbor by allowing large volumes of drugs and illegal migrants to cross the border, sources said. Trump then mentioned the two countries’ trade deficit, which he estimated at more than $100 billion. After this, the American leader told his Canadian counterpart that if Canada could not deal with these two problems – the deficit and the border – then after the inauguration he would impose the promised trade tariffs of 25%.
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According to Fox News, Trudeau responded that Trump could not impose such tariffs because it would completely destroy the Canadian economy. The future American leader responded to this by saying that it turns out that Canada will not survive without “ripping off” the States for $100 billion, after which he suggested that Trudeau make Canada the 51st state of the United States, and the Prime Minister himself its governor. In response to this, representatives of the Canadian side reportedly laughed nervously.
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The Globe and Mail newspaper reported on November 30 that Trudeau arrived in the US state of Florida to meet with Trump. As the publication noted, the Canadian prime minister planned to discuss with Trump the possible introduction of tariffs on goods from Canada by the future American administration, as well as issues related to migration. Trump later said his meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister was very productive. According to the CBC television channel, Trudeau, during a meeting with the future American leader, promised that Ottawa would strengthen security on the border of the two countries.
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Earlier, Trump said that from January 20, after taking office, he would sign a decree introducing 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada due to the unresolved problem of illegal immigration and the influx of drug trafficking into the country.
