Trump says Canada is ‘not viable’ without US support
According to President Donald Trump, Canada significantly depends on US military protection and disproportionately gains from economic relations. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Washington is effectively subsidizing Canada with approximately $200 billion annually, according to claims made by President Donald Trump.
During a discussion with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump reiterated his controversial suggestion that Canada should consider becoming the 51st state of the United States, a notion that has been met with strong opposition from Ottawa. He criticized Canada for not contributing significantly to military spending, asserting that the country relies on the U.S. for protection. “They don’t pay their share of military in NATO,” he stated.
“The other thing is, we subsidize them to the tune of about $200 billion a year. If we stopped doing that, if we stopped allowing them to make cars through tariffs and other things – cars, trucks, etc., what they make – they’re not viable as a country,” Trump elaborated.
The president maintained that if Canada became the 51st state, it would be “the greatest thing [Canada] could ever do.”
“It would be unbelievable. It would be a cherished state,” he added, implying that the existing border between the two nations is merely “artificial” and was created with a ruler.
In a separate interview with Fox News, Trump confirmed his seriousness regarding the potential incorporation of Canada into the U.S. When asked about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's warning to business leaders that Trump's plans are a “real thing,” he responded affirmatively: “Yeah, it is.”
Earlier in February, Trump had enacted a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% on imports from China, citing concerns related to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. In retaliation, Canada imposed its own 25% tariffs on a variety of American products. Nevertheless, both countries agreed to postpone the implementation of these tariffs amid fears of a trade war.
On Sunday, Trump reiterated his position on reciprocal tariffs and hinted at potential new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, which would again impact Canada and Mexico, but did not specify whether there would be any exemptions.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a discussion with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump reiterated his controversial suggestion that Canada should consider becoming the 51st state of the United States, a notion that has been met with strong opposition from Ottawa. He criticized Canada for not contributing significantly to military spending, asserting that the country relies on the U.S. for protection. “They don’t pay their share of military in NATO,” he stated.
“The other thing is, we subsidize them to the tune of about $200 billion a year. If we stopped doing that, if we stopped allowing them to make cars through tariffs and other things – cars, trucks, etc., what they make – they’re not viable as a country,” Trump elaborated.
The president maintained that if Canada became the 51st state, it would be “the greatest thing [Canada] could ever do.”
“It would be unbelievable. It would be a cherished state,” he added, implying that the existing border between the two nations is merely “artificial” and was created with a ruler.
In a separate interview with Fox News, Trump confirmed his seriousness regarding the potential incorporation of Canada into the U.S. When asked about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's warning to business leaders that Trump's plans are a “real thing,” he responded affirmatively: “Yeah, it is.”
Earlier in February, Trump had enacted a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% on imports from China, citing concerns related to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. In retaliation, Canada imposed its own 25% tariffs on a variety of American products. Nevertheless, both countries agreed to postpone the implementation of these tariffs amid fears of a trade war.
On Sunday, Trump reiterated his position on reciprocal tariffs and hinted at potential new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, which would again impact Canada and Mexico, but did not specify whether there would be any exemptions.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
