New Delhi:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as soon as once more dismissed US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks suggesting Canada might turn out to be the 51st state of the United States. Trudeau termed Trump’s feedback as a distraction tactic.
“That’s not gonna occur. Canadians are extremely happy with being Canadian. One of the methods we outline ourselves most simply is – we’re not American,” Trudeau mentioned in an interview with CNN. “What I feel is occurring in that is President Trump, who’s a really skilful negotiator, is getting individuals to be considerably distracted by that dialog.”
Trump lately urged imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian imports until Ottawa enhances border safety, a transfer Trudeau warned would impression each economies. Trudeau mentioned US shoppers would bear the brunt of elevated costs if such tariffs have been carried out.
“Oil and fuel and electrical energy and metal and aluminum and lumber and concrete and all the pieces the American shoppers purchase from Canada [are] out of the blue going to get much more costly if he strikes ahead on these tariffs,” Trudeau mentioned.
Trudeau additionally referred to Canada’s earlier use of counter-tariffs throughout a 2018 commerce dispute, focusing on American items like Heinz ketchup, taking part in playing cards, bourbon, and Harley-Davidson bikes.
“But we do not wish to try this as a result of it drives up costs for Canadians and it harms our closest buying and selling associate,” Trudeau mentioned.
Trump’s remarks are the most recent in a sequence of surprising territorial concepts, together with tall claims of buying Greenland throughout his first time period. The proposal drew sharp rejection from Danish and Greenlandic officers.
“There is not a snowball’s probability in hell that Canada would turn out to be a part of the United States,” Trudeau had mentioned earlier this week, rejecting Trump’s proposal.