Canada is ready for negotiations with US President Donald Trump but only if he stops joking about the country becoming the 51st state. Seriously, this is not a game, it is an entire northern nation!
Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed willingness to discuss economic and defense ties with the US, but there is a condition! Talks can only happen if the Trump administration stops referring to Canada as the 51st state. The prime minister voiced his concerns after hearing disrespectful comments during a press conference in London, following meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, King Charles III, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Carney reiterated that Canada was open to comprehensive discussions and negotiations on trade and security. He stressed that once the US was ready for a serious dialogue, Canada would respond in kind.
At the same time, Carney highlighted the challenges Canada faced due to the new tariffs introduced by President Trump. One major issue is the sheer difference in economic size. Right now, Canada’s economy is only one-tenth the size of the US economy. “There is a limit to matching these tariffs dollar for dollar given the fact that our economy is a tenth the size of the United States,” Carney said.
Carney, who has recently replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister, has also noted that Canada’s response will depend on the tariffs Trump plans to introduce on April 2. The US President has repeatedly promised to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries that already have duties on American goods. Industries such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors are expected to be hit hardest.
As for Canada’s counter-tariffs, Carney emphasized that they were strategically chosen. Thus, they will hurt the US economy significantly while having minimal impact on Canada.