US President Donald Trump on 11 March announced new measures against Canada in response to the Canadian province of Ontario’s 25 per cent tax on electricity supplied to the United States.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that he instructed the Secretary of Commerce to raise duties on Canadian steel and aluminium to 50 per cent effective March 12, and did not rule out imposing new restrictions. He also demanded Canada immediately reduce duties on U.S. dairy products, calling them outrageous.
“Unless Canada repeals other screaming duties that have been in place for a long time, on 2 April I will substantially increase duties on cars imported into the U.S., which will essentially shut down auto production in Canada forever,” Trump said (U.S. and Canadian auto production is closely integrated, with some parts or components crossing the two countries’ common border several times – ed.).
According to Trump, “the only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished 51st state.”
“That would result in the complete disappearance of all duties and everything else. Canadians’ taxes would be substantially reduced, they would be more protected militarily and in other ways than ever before, there would no longer be a northern border problem, and the biggest and most powerful country in the world would be bigger, better and stronger than ever,” the US president pointed out.
Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister who replaced Justin Trudeau on 10 March, has said his country will never be part of the United States.
In February, Trump in a conversation with Trudeau suggested Canada become the 51st state to avoid 25 per cent US duties. Trudeau ruled out joining America.