Trump says that just days before Canada’s crucial elections, it “will no longer exist” unless it’s for the US.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Canada would “have ceased” if it wasn’t for the US. A comment that came days before Canadians voted in the election that dominated Trump’s remarks on the country’s economy and sovereignty.
Trump said Canada would “stop existing as a country” if the US ceases to buy goods, and reinserted it into the Canadian election with a signature ceremony inside an oval office.
“I have to be honest. As a nation, it works well,” Trump said.
Trump reiterated his claim that the US needs nothing from Canada, including cars and oil.
“We don’t want Canada to build a car and put it straight out of it. We want to build our own car,” Trump said.
Over the past few weeks, Trump has backed off his speech that Canada has become its 51st state. He stopped saying it after the phone New Prime Minister Mark Kearney last month.
Trump also proposed on Wednesday that he could increase import taxes on cars from Canada. Trump has a 25% tariff on cars, but there are several exemptions related to the US-Mexico-Canada agreement on trade, and automakers are calling for other policy changes to minimize the burden of tariffs. Trump has separated 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.
“I really don’t want cars from Canada,” Trump said. “So when I put tariffs on Canada, they’re paying 25%, but that could rise on the car front. When we put tariffs, all we do is say, “We don’t want your car, with all our respect.” ”
Trump warned he is not currently considering additional car rates, but he said there could be an increase.
Carney said last week that eliminating trade barriers within Canada would benefit Canadians as he filed his lawsuit to maintain power ahead of the April 28 vote. By July 1, Carney had set free trade targets within the country’s 10 states and three territories. Canada has long had local trade barriers.
“You can give yourself more than Donald Trump can take,” Carney said. “We can have one economy. This is within our grasp.”
Carney said Canada’s relationship with the US over the past 40 years has fundamentally changed due to Trump’s tariffs. Trump’s trade war and threat to make Canada a 51st state infuriated Canadians,Surge in Canadian nationalismIt strengthened the liberal party’s polls.
This story was originally introduced Fortune.com