The country is “totally reliant” on the US, and would be better off as the 51st state, the US president has argued
US President Donald Trump has vowed to no longer let Canada “take advantage” of the US, once again stating that he wants to make the neighboring country America’s 51st state. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said Canada would not even exist without US subsidies and business cooperation.
Trump made similar remarks in the run-up to his inauguration earlier this month, suggesting that his administration could make Canada part of the US. Ottawa has dismissed these suggestions.
“Canada’s been taking advantage of the US for years. We’re not going to let that happen,” Trump told reporters.
“Without our subsidy, Canada doesn’t exist really. Canada is totally reliant on us, therefore they should be a state,” he said. Trump accused Canada of “treating us very unfairly on trade,” claiming that the US has been losing $250 billion a year to the neighboring state in trade deficits, while Canada does “almost 90% of their business with the United States.”
“I could stop that in one day, and if I stopped that, Canada wouldn’t exist as a country… I don’t want to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on supporting a country unless that country is a state,” he said.
According to Trump, Canada would benefit from becoming part of the US.
“If it is a state, the people of Canada would pay a much lower tax. Their taxes would be cut in half… They’ll get much better treatment, much better care,” he stated, adding that Canadians would also “have no military problems” and “would be much more secure in every way.”
“I think it’s a great thing for Canada… I view it as, honestly, a country that should be a state,” Trump said.
READ MORE: Trump lists perks should Canada become 51st US State
Trump earlier threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, saying the measure would strengthen the US economy. He reiterated the threat earlier this week, telling reporters that he plans to introduce the tariffs in February. Canada’s outgoing prime minister, Justin Trudeau, responded, warning Trump that Canada will introduce retaliatory tariffs and “prices for American consumers on just about everything will go up.” Earlier this month, Trudeau said there isn’t “a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada will become part of the US.
