Donald Trump doubled down on his tariff war with Canada despite the agreed pause on tariffs for the time being and said he won’t bend at all. Canada only works as a state and the US does not need anything they have, Trump said repeating his demand that Canada should become the 51st state. As a concession, he announced Thursday that he would allow Canada to keep their national anthem — as a US state. ” As a state, it would be one of the great states. This would be the most incredible country visually. If you look at the map, they do an artificial line right through it between Canada and the US. A straight artificial line. Somebody did it a long time ago. And it makes no sense. It’s so perfect as a great and cherished state,” Trump said.
The US won’t allow Canada ripping off anymore, Trump said. “We’ve been ripped off for years and we’re not going to be ripped off anymore. No, I’m not going to bend at all — aluminum or steel or cars,” Trump told reporters when asked if he would back down. Trump said he loves Canada, Canada people but can’t subsidize the country every year.
US-Canada trade war so far
On February 1, Trump signed executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods entering the US, except for energy exports (taxed at 10%), effective March 4, 2025. This move was justified by Trump as a response to illegal immigration and fentanyl flows originating from Canada. Canada swiftly countered on March 4 with 25% tariffs on $30 billion (CAD) of US goods, including orange juice, peanut butter, and motorcycles, with plans to expand to $155 billion (CAD) within weeks.
The trade war intensified on March 11 when the US doubled the steel and aluminum tariffs retaliating Ontario’s 25% surcharge on electricity exports to US states like Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, which rely on Canadian power for millions of homes. Both sides then de-escalated agreeing to talks and a temporary pause on some measures.
