Canada, 51st American state? | Trump’s threat only distracts, says Trudeau

(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said rumors of Canada becoming 51^e State only distract attention from the more pressing threats of U.S. tariffs on Canada and their likely consequences.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on MSNBC, he said Canada was prepared to respond by imposing retaliatory tariffs if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose 25% tariffs on imports. from Canada and Mexico when he takes office next week.

Mr. Trump also referred to Canada as “the 51^e State,” a notion that federal cabinet ministers initially saw as a joke, but now appear to take more seriously.

Guest on the show Inside with Jen PsakiMr. Trudeau said Canadians need to take Mr. Trump’s expansionist rhetoric seriously, and that there is a certain “flattery” in the president-elect’s observation of how great the country is.

Still, Mr. Trudeau said the whole idea was “doomed to fail,” that Canadians were “incredibly proud” to be Canadian and that his government was looking for ways to fend off possible tariffs.

The prime minister said he was able to negotiate a mutually beneficial deal with Mr. Trump the last time they were both in office and emphasized the strength of Canada’s border when they met last month .