Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau harshly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on March 4, denouncing his decision to impose tariffs of 25% on all Canadian goods. Trudeau accused Trump of deliberately aiming to "collapse" Canada's economy to facilitate its potential annexation by the United States. This statement marks a significant escalation of tensions between the two countries, which have historically maintained strong economic ties.

During a powerful address in Ottawa, Trudeau expressed that these tariffs not only threaten the economic stability of Canada but also represent a stark attack on Canadian sovereignty. Trudeau implored that Canadians, known for their politeness, would not remain silent amid this escalating trade war. “We are reasonable. We will not back down from a fight,” he emphasized.

Trump justified his tariffs by linking them to concerns over undocumented migration and fentanyl trafficking from Canada into the United States, a rationale Trudeau labeled as "completely false." He stressed that Canada does not significantly contribute to these cross-border issues and pointed out that Trump's motivations may reflect a desire to see Canada weakened, stating, “He wants to see a collapse of the Canadian economy because that would make it easier to annex us,” referring to Trump's past comments about considering Canada the 51st state.

As Trudeau prepares to transition leadership of the Liberal Party and soon step down from the premiership, he remains focused on removing these tariffs, having already initiated new border security measures and appointed a fentanyl czar to tackle the drug issue—a move intended to alleviate American concerns. Trudeau confirmed his readiness to engage directly with Trump to expedite the removal of these tariffs, saying, “I think he is a smart guy, but this is a very dumb thing to do.”

The current standoff poses risks to the daily cross-border trade, which typically amounts to billions of dollars. For further information, visit India Times.