Trump called Canada totally dependent on the U.S. and a non-sovereign country

US President Donald Trump called Canada a country dependent on the States and said that it cannot be a separate state. He told reporters on Saturday, January 25.

"Canada is totally dependent on us, and therefore it cannot be a [separate] state. We are losing $250 billion a year in Canada. I could stop that in one day and Canada would not exist <...> as an [independent] country," Trump emphasized.

According to him, Canada is using the US for its own benefit, and it is impossible to continue such a format of interaction between the two states.

"Without our subsidies, Canada does not really exist," the American leader emphasized.

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Earlier, on January 24, Trump promised Canada "serious" tax breaks and the absence of trade duties if it agrees to become America's 51st state.

The day before, Trump described relations with Canada in the field of trade as a deficit of about $200-250 billion and promised to change the situation. Then he said that the neighboring country could avoid imposing 25 percent tariffs if it joined the United States.

On the same day, Al Jazeera TV reported that Canadian experts outlined the consequences for trade due to the US president's threats on tariffs. Economists said Trump's promise to steer the country on a protectionist course poses serious problems for whoever succeeds Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Earlier on December 11, 2024, Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Canadian government is ready to defend national interests over Trump's claims that the country could become an "American state."