Rubio Criticizes Trump’s Comments on Making Canada the 51st State After Trudeau Warns of Economic Impact of High Tariffs
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the American president started talking about Canada becoming the “51st state” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jokingly said that Canada would “cease to exist” if faced with high American tariffs on its goods.
Trudeau recalled the meeting where he suggested a “trade for Vermont or California for certain parts” in response to the tariff discussion, and the conversation was quickly dropped.
In an interview with American journalist Catherine Herridge posted on social media, Rubio explained that during the first meeting between Trump and Trudeau on Nov. 29, 2024, the issue arose when the prime minister implied that Canada’s existence would be in jeopardy with 25 percent tariffs.
According to Rubio, the president’s logical response was that if Canada couldn’t survive without unfair trade practices, it should become a state.
Rubio emphasized that while Canada is a friend, neighbor, and partner of the United States, the country is working towards fair trade with all nations.
He stated, “Whether it’s Canada, Mexico, China, or any other country, reciprocity and fairness are essential in trade relationships.”
Rubio outlined the U.S. trade approach as “tit for tat,” where economic policies are reciprocal, and unfair practices are not tolerated.
Trump had threatened tariffs on Canadian imports, but a last-minute agreement with Trudeau postponed the tariffs, allowing time to negotiate a final deal.
The U.S. president believes the United States subsidizes Canada, leading to trade imbalances.
The United States had a trade deficit with Canada in 2023, attributed to oil purchases, although Canadian leaders argue that the U.S. benefits from the trades.
Trump-Trudeau Meeting
Trump mentioned that during their meeting, Trudeau suggested Canada might not function without U.S. subsidies, prompting the discussion about Canada becoming a state.
Trudeau had a light-hearted response to Trump’s initial suggestion but later expressed concerns about the seriousness of the idea.
The Trump administration’s recent announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports may extend to other countries after further studies on trade deficits and unfair practices.
