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The US is ready to continue its relationship with Canada, but trade “has to be reciprocity,” according to the US Secretary of State.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims that President Donald Trump’s suggestion of Canada becoming part of the US came “logically” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supposedly said Canada would not survive higher US tariffs.
Rubio, in an interview with journalist Catherine Herridge, recounted a conversation where Trudeau allegedly stated Canada couldn’t handle increased tariffs.
“Trudeau says, ‘if you impose [new tariffs], if you even out our trade relationship, then we will cease to exist as a country.’ At which point the president responded very logically, and that is ‘if you can’t exist without cheating and trade, then you should become a [US] state’,” Rubio stated.
Trump had previously announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports to the US, including those from Canada, beginning in March. Rubio stated that while the US and Canada are neighbors and partners, trade imbalances must end.
“We can continue to work together on all kinds of things, but whether it’s Canada, Mexico, China, or any other partner, when it comes to economics and trade, there has to be reciprocity, there has to be fairness”, Rubio said.
Trump has stated publicly that Canada relies on hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies and US military protection to survive.
According to Trump, Canada joining the US would result in “much lower taxes, far better military protection for the people of Canada, and no tariffs.” He also asserted that Canadian citizens “would like” the idea “if it’s explained [to them].”
However, Canadian officials have widely criticized this suggestion. Trudeau called it a “non-starter,” saying that “many citizens” oppose it. He warned that the US seeks to “benefit” from Canadian resources and that “Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country, and it is a real thing.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre declared that “Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country.” New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh dismissed the idea as absurd and said no Canadian wants such a union.
Earlier in February, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on imports from China, citing concerns about illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Canada responded by announcing 25% retaliatory tariffs on a variety of US-made goods. However, Washington and Ottawa later agreed to postpone the tariffs’ implementation until March 4.