By Running Post
Abdul Jabbar
President Donald Trump surprised listeners during his first global address since taking office as he suggested, in a very surprising move, that Canada would make a very good 51st state. Speaking via video link to the Davos economic forum in Switzerland on Thursday, Trump delivered a speech that underscores his administration’s assertive approach to trade and international relations.
Trump’s speech gave a glimpse into how he would place economic and political pressure on US allies and made Canada the center of his rhetoric. “Build in America or face tariffs,” trump declared, as he challenged international businesses to invest in the United States to reap its competitive tax policies. He however warned that those who made other choices would face hefty financial penalties.
While Trump panned several allies, including the European Union, he focused much of his attention on Canada. He branded it an antagonistic trading partner and continued to rant about America’s trade deficit with Canada. Though he mentioned deficits of as much as $200-$250 billion, deficits are actually far smaller and shrink as oil prices rise-which account for a good two-thirds of U.S. imports from Canada.
“We don’t need their cars, their lumber, or their oil,” Trump said to dismiss Canada’s contributions to U.S. industries. But that’s an oversimplification of the economic ties between the two nations. For example, U.S. refineries rely heavily on Canada’s oil supply, and the North American auto industry is deeply integrated across the border.
The president also said he would place a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and demanded that North American trade policies be reviewed by April 1. Combined with an aggressive deregulatory push in U.S. industries, this has alarmed businesses operating in Canada, with some companies voicing uncertainty over future investments.
Trump’s economic pressure tactics aren’t limited to trade. In a speech this week, he repeated his insistence that NATO allies boost their spending on defense to 5 percent of GDP—far above the current 2 percent target for member countries. Canada, whose defense budget was promised to near triple, falls short of meeting its own NATO-pledged levels.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted Canada’s commitment to NATO and its efforts to strengthen defense spending. But Ottawa has some hurdles to overcome in meeting Trump’s increasingly demanding requests, particularly as the federal election looms later this year.
Trump’s Davos comments mark an unprecedented level of scrutiny towards Canada-U.S. relations. His suggestion of annexing Canada raises questions about sovereignty and diplomacy, disrupting a partnership that has endured for generations.
Public opinion in the United States, however, strongly opposes the idea of incorporating Canada as a state. Recent surveys by major outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters-Ipsos, and the Economist-YouGov reveal that most Americans are against the proposal.
The two countries will have opportunities to address these contentious issues with significant international forums like the G7 in Alberta and the NATO summit in Europe scheduled later this year. However, bold comments by Trump about Canada’s statehood mark a new and uncertain chapter in their bilateral relationship, challenging the norms that have defined their partnership for decades.