HomePoliticsPoliticsTrudeau Rejects Idea Of Canada Merging With US As Unthinkable

Trudeau Rejects Idea Of Canada Merging With US As Unthinkable

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded sharply to Donald Trump’s recent remarks about using “economic force” to integrate Canada into the United States, declaring emphatically that such a scenario has “a snowball’s chance in hell” of happening.

Donald Trump, the President-elect, has in recent weeks reignited tensions with Canada by persistently insinuating that the nation might eventually join the United States as its 51st state.

“You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security,” Trump said at a press conference at his Florida Mar-a Lago home on Tuesday.

“Canada and the United States, that would really be something.”

Reiterating his stance, Trump threatened to introduce a “substantial” tariff on goods coming from Canada unless the country enhanced security along the shared border with the United States.

Canada finds itself navigating dual crises as the tariff threat persists amid political upheaval. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, grappling with significant challenges, declared his resignation but confirmed he would remain in office until the Liberal Party chooses a new leader, anticipated by late March.

Canada’s parliament has been prorogued – or suspended – until 24 March to allow time for the leadership race.

Economists warn that if Trump follows through on imposing the tariffs after he is inaugurated on 20 January, it would significantly hurt Canada’s economy.

Read also: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Resigns Amidst Pressure

Almost C$3.6bn ($2.5bn) worth of goods and services crossed the border daily in 2023, according to Canadian government figures.

The Trudeau government has said it is considering imposing counter-tariffs if Trump follows through on the threat.

The prime minister also said on X on Tuesday that: “Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.”

During his lengthy Mar-a-Lago press conference, Trump reiterated his concerns he has expressed about drugs crossing the borders of Mexico and Canada into the US.

Like Canada, Mexico faces a 25% tariff threat. The amount of fentanyl seized at the US-Canada border is significantly lower than at the southern border, according to US data.

Canada has promised to implement a set of sweeping new security measures along the border, including strengthened surveillance and adding a joint “strike force” to target transnational organised crime.

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