Donald Trump doubles tariffs on Canada and threatens its border will ‘disappear’
Donald Trump ratcheted up his threat to double tariffs on Canada and make the border between it and the US “disappear”.
The US President once again threatened Canada’s independence in a post shared to his social media platform Truth Social today. Mr Trump called on Canada to drop what he branded its “anti-American farmer tariff” before adding the issue could be settled by the country becoming the US’s 51st state.
Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford immediately fired back at the President, claiming that Canada “won’t back down” in a trade war. He posted on X: “President Trump launched an unprovoked trade and tariff war with America’s closest friend and ally. Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, we won’t back down.”
It came after the US President issued a strongly-worded social media tirade, confirming he was doubling tariffs on some Canadian imports.
Mr Trump posted: “Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25 per cent Tariff on “Electricity” coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25 per cent Tariff, to 50 per cent, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
“This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th. Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250 per cent to 390 per cent on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada.
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“If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.
“Those cars can easily be made in the USA! Also, Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection. We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State.
“This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that.
“The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!”
Ontatio’s Premier Mr Ford immediately fired back, insisting that Canada won’t be backing down in the trade war, however. He posted on X: “President Trump launched an unprovoked trade and tariff war with America’s closest friend and ally. Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, we won’t back down.”
Ford said he would be issuing a 25% tariff on electricity exports to three US states starting Monday, warning that he will turn off access if the United States adds new tariffs on Canadian goods. He said: “If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.”
Mr Trump has continued to threaten Canada and Mexico with tariffs which he has repeatedly claimed is to stem the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl from entering the US. The Republican has also stated several times that he wants to slap tariffs on multiple allies to address trade imbalances and stop America from being “ripped off”.
Canadian leaders have repeatedly hit out against Mr Trump’s proposed tariffs which would be devastating to the country’s economy. The US is by far Canada’s largest trading partner with an estimated 76.8 per cent share of its international exports going south of the border in 2022, according to World Integrated Trade Solution.
Despite this, multiple Canadian leaders have hit out at any suggestion Canada would become a part of the US. Designated Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada “will never, ever be part of America.”
His Tory rival Pierre Poilievre has repeatedly hit out at Mr Trump after he announced a series of tariffs against Canada last month. In a turn against Mr Trump, he said: “We will never be the 51st stat.”
Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously branded Mr Trump’s tariffs as “dumb.”
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