President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Canada “would stop” without the United States – comments that came only a few days before Canadians voted in an election dominated by Trump’s remarks on the country’s economy and sovereignty.
Trump reintegrated in the Canada elections during a signature ceremony inside the oval office, saying that Canada “would stop existing as a country” if the United States stopped buying its goods.
“I must be honest, as a state, it works very well,” said Trump, who previously threatened to make the country on the 51st state by economic coercion.
Trump reiterated his statement that the United States needs nothing in Canada – including cars and petroleum.
“We don’t really want Canada to make cars for us, to say it frankly. We want to make our own cars,” said Trump.
In recent weeks, Trump has resumed his speech on Canada becoming the 51st state. He stopped saying it after a call with New Prime Minister Mark Carney last month.
Trump also suggested on Wednesday that it could increase importation taxes on Canada cars. Trump has a 25% rate on cars, although there are exemptions related to the agreement of the United States-Mexico-Canada on Commerce, and car manufacturers are looking for other policy changes to minimize the price load. Trump has separate 25% tariffs on Canadian goods – ostensibly to deal with drug smuggling in the United States
“I really don’t want Canada cars,” said Trump. “So when I put prices on Canada, they pay 25%, but it could increase in terms of cars. When we put prices, everything we do is that we say:” We do not want your cars to do not respect. “”
Trump warned that he is currently not considering additional car rates, but he said there could be an increase.
Carney said that last week, the elimination of trade barriers in Canada would benefit Canadians while arguing in favor of keeping power before a vote on April 28. Carney set an objective of free trade within the 10 provinces of the country and three territories by July 1. Canada has long been interpreted commercial barriers.
“We can give ourselves much more than Donald Trump can never remove,” said Carney. “We can have an economy. It is within our reach. “
Carney has said that the relationship that Canada has had with the United States in the past 40 years has fundamentally changed due to Trump’s prices. The trade war and the threats of Trump to make Canada the 51st state made the Canadians furious and led to apush of Canadian nationalismThis has strengthened the liberal parties survey numbers.
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
