In declaring an economic war on Canada, President-elect Donald Trump said America doesn’t need Canada’s milk, beef, manufactured cars, goods — or anything for that matter.
But in saying he would apply “economic force,” what he didn’t answer is whether American states will miss the billions of dollars Canadians spend on goods and services from U.S. farmers and corporations each year.
Canada is America’s largest trading partner. This could change with the 47th president being sworn in Jan. 20.
Trump does not see Canada as a country. He sees Canada as America’s 51st state.
Trump made no bones about this at his news conference Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, saying that Canada “should be a state. That’s what I told (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau when he came down.”
Trump added that while meeting the prime minister, he said “what would happen” if the U.S. didn’t back down on the threat of a 25% tariff on Canadian goods destined for U.S. markets. “(Trudeau) said Canada would dissolve. Canada wouldn’t be able to function.”
Trump is underestimating the resolve of Canadians, the toughness of the people who built the country over two centuries by clearing the trees, building canals and going to war to fight fascism.
Trump can no longer claim to be a friend to Canada. No friend talks like this.
Canadians, meanwhile, are his home state of Florida’s most prolific tourists, dropping $6.5 billion there every year.
When it comes to milk and dairy, Canada buys almost $700 million each year from American farmers, while Canada sends about $20 million down south.
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When it comes to beef and agriculture, America sends Canada $32 billion every year. The bottom line is Trump was not only out of line, but also messing around with the business of his own manufacturers.
Since he always seems to talking about Canada becoming America’s 51st state, it would surprise no one if Trump vowed to rename Lake Ontario, “Lake New York.” He did, after all, laud the idea on Tuesday of renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America,” and sent his son, Donald Trump Jr., on Trump Force One to Nuuk, Greenland, where “Make Greenland Great Again” hats were on display.
And don’t forget his pledge to take back the Panama Canal. He didn’t rule out using the military to do it.
No Canadian is going to hand Trump Canada, and he needs to be told that, robustly.
What was coming off a few weeks ago as a joke or negotiating tactic — including the suggestion of making Canadian icon Wayne Gretzky the Canuck state’s governor — are now fighting words.
Trump has not only shown a complete lack of respect for Canada’s prime minister, but was also dismissive of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, saying he doesn’t “care” what he says.
Trump’s unhinged words were extreme shots over the bow and unprecedented in Canada-U.S. relations.
Canadians understand this is a crisis.
Trump’s disrespect has not only been unproductive, unfair and unrealistic, but also rude and bully-like. The only thing you can do with somebody acting like a bully is stand up to them, and that is what Canada’s leaders rightfully did Tuesday.
“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,” posted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to X. “Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other’s biggest trading and security partner.”
Poilievre added: “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country. We are the best friend to the U.S. We spent billions of dollars and hundreds of lives helping Americans retaliate against Al-Qaida’s 9/11 attacks. We supply the U.S. with billions of dollars of high-quality and totally reliable energy well below market prices. We buy hundreds of billions of dollars of American goods” and “I will fight for Canada.”
Brampton Councillor Rowena Santos hit the mark perfectly with her X video in front of a CN rail and truck pickup transit centre, which showed the actual trade and commerce happening right behind her.
“The trucks that come and go from here are filled with products manufactured in Canada and the United States,” she said. “The free flood of goods represents Canadian and American jobs.”
For now.
If Trump follows through on what are now threats, the economic landscape will be far different than it is today. He said the current arrangement is a result of “habit” and “it can’t go on forever.”
With Parliament prorogued, there hasn’t been any opportunity for debate on how to respond — and a minority government, with its leader announcing he plans to resign, puts Canada in a vulnerable spot.
Parliament should be called back immediately, a bi-partisan strategy agreed implemented, and a snap, emergency election called.
That way, Canadians can choose the leader they feel would best deal with this dangerous challenge.