Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed concern that US President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st US state may not be a joke but a “real thing” driven by the country’s vast critical mineral resources.
Speaking at a closed-door business summit in Toronto, Trudeau suggested that Trump is eyeing Canada’s resources as a strategic asset. “Mr Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country.And it is a real thing,” Trudeau was heard saying before a microphone cut off, according to the news agency AP.
Trump has made multiple public references to annexing Canada in recent weeks. In the Oval Office, when asked what Canada could do to avoid tariffs, he stated, “What I’d like to see, is Canada become our 51st state.” He also referred to Trudeau as “governor Trudeau” in several posts on his social media platform Truth Social.
His administration recently threatened 25% tariffs on all Canadian exports, except energy, which would be taxed at 10%. Trump agreed to a 30-day reprieve on the tariffs after Canada pledged to bolster border security.
Canada is home to 31 critical minerals vital for electric vehicle batteries, semiconductors, and clean energy technology. Of those, Canada has prioritised lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements in its strategy to lead the global transition away from fossil fuels, according to the New York Times.
François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s industry minister, emphasised that the US economy is deeply dependent on Canadian supply chains. “This is about a confident Canada,” he said.
An Ipsos poll conducted in January found that 80% of Canadians oppose becoming part of the US, with many dismissing Trump’s comments as political bluster, according to BBC. However, Trudeau’s remarks suggest a shift in how Canada views the situation.
Canada’s countermeasures
To fend off tariffs, Canada has introduced a $1.3 billion CAD ($900 million USD) border security plan, which includes drones, helicopters, additional border guards, and a joint US-Canada task force. Trudeau also announced the appointment of a “fentanyl czar” to coordinate efforts, despite Canada contributing to less than 1% of fentanyl smuggling into the US, reported AP.
“This is a moment. This is a time in our country’s history that really matters”, Trudeau said.
With the 30-day tariff reprieve ticking down, Trudeau emphasized that Canada must be prepared for potential economic retaliation. “We need to be ready to respond robustly,” he said. “We also have to be ready to support Canadians through the responses we’re giving and through a difficult time of tariffs”.
As tensions with the US escalate, Canadian business leaders are calling for less reliance on American trade. Candace Laing, President of the Canadian chamber of commerce, said businesses must diversify markets to avoid economic instability.
“It’s clear that we can’t just tinker around the edges with incremental steps right now,” she said. “We’ve got to be bold so that businesses and communities can pivot to be more resilient and less reliant on what happens in the US”, she added as per AP.
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