Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has brushed off U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks about potentially annexing Canada, calling it a diversionary tactic aimed at shifting focus from the economic fallout of proposed tariffs.
Speaking to CNN on Wednesday, Trudeau addressed Trump’s statement about imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports unless border security was increased. Trump claimed economic force might be an option to “acquire Canada.”
Trudeau responded: “President Trump is a very skillful negotiator, and this is a distraction from the real issue—tariffs that will make everything from oil and gas to aluminum and lumber more expensive for American consumers.”
No “Snowball’s Chance” of Annexation
Trudeau reiterated his firm stance that Canada would never become part of the United States, dismissing the notion as implausible. “There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell,” he said earlier this week.
Countermeasures on the Table
The Canadian Prime Minister warned that Ottawa would respond to any tariffs with countermeasures, referencing actions taken during a 2018 trade dispute. At that time, Canada targeted specific U.S. industries with tariffs on products such as Heinz ketchup, bourbon, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and playing cards.
“We don’t want to do that again because it drives up prices for Canadians and harms our closest trading partner. But we will act to protect our economy and workers,” Trudeau added.
Economic Impact
The proposed tariffs threaten to disrupt the tightly knit economic relationship between the two nations. With industries like oil, gas, steel, and lumber deeply integrated, experts warn the tariffs could lead to significant price increases on both sides of the border.
The escalating rhetoric comes as both countries navigate complex trade and border security issues, underscoring the delicate balance of diplomacy in the region.
