By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday has said that US President Donald Trump’s threat to annex Canada “is a real thing,” according to news media reported.
According to a CBC News report, Trudeau told business leaders on Friday at the Canada-US Economic Summit in Toronto that it would be motivated by the access to Canada’s critical minerals.
“Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing,” Trudeau was quoted as saying.
He said that Trump is driven because the US could benefit from Canada’s critical mineral resources, media reported.
Trudeau made the remarks after delivering an opening address to the summit Friday morning, outlined the key issues facing the country when it comes to Canada’s trading relationship with the US, media reported.
He said Canada needs both a tactical response to Trump’s tariff threats in the short term, as well as a strategy for dealing with a less cooperative US in the long term.
Trudeau said that Trump’s comments about turning Canada into the United States’ 51st state are just a distraction from the consequences of Trump’s tariff threats.
Trump’s threat to make Canada the 51st state a distraction from tariff fallout, Trudeau said.
He added that Canada becoming another US state was “not going to happen”.
Trump administration announced to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, and Canada hit back with 25-per cent tariffs on 155 billion Canadian dollars ($107 billion) worth of American goods.
Two countries then paused the proposed tariffs for at least 30 days.
Trump has said if Canada wants to avoid steep tariffs it could become the 51st US state.
Trudeau made commitments to boost security at Canada’s border. Trump announced a pause on the proposed tariffs for at least a month.
Canadian premier said Canada would be implementing its announced $1.3 billion border plan, and committed to appoint a “fentanyl czar” and listing cartels as terrorists.
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