Trump Proposes Canada Become 51st State to Avoid Tariffs

US President-elect Donald Trump has floated the idea of Canada joining the United States as its 51st state, following discussions over proposed tariffs on Canadian imports. The suggestion came during a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to Fox News.

The backdrop for this proposal was set when Trump, earlier in the week, announced his intention to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. This move was framed as retaliation against the influx of illegal immigrants, crime, and drugs across the borders. Trudeau, in an attempt to mitigate this threat, spoke directly with Trump, leading to their Friday meeting.

At the dinner, Trump reiterated his concerns about Canada's border management, accusing it of allowing entry to drugs and migrants from over 70 countries, contributing to a significant trade deficit with the US, which he pegged at approximately $100 billion.

Responding to Trudeau's concerns that such tariffs would devastate Canada's economy, Trump lightheartedly suggested that Canada could circumvent these economic woes by becoming part of the US. He further mused that Canada might split into two states based on political leanings, one conservative and one liberal. This proposal was met with uneasy laughter from those present.

Despite the jovial tone, Trump underscored his resolve to enforce the tariffs upon his return to office on January 20.

Neither Trump's nor Trudeau's offices have commented on these reports from Fox News. 

Following the dinner, Trudeau described the talks as "excellent" without divulging details, and Trump referred to the meeting as "productive," mentioning Trudeau's commitment to collaborate with his administration on these issues, though without revisiting his tariff threats.

There are concerns about the feasibility of these tariffs due to the existing USMCA agreement, which currently exempts many imports from tariffs. Economic analysts suggest that such tariff impositions might not only contravene this agreement but could also provoke domestic inflation and potentially ignite a trade war through retaliatory tariffs from affected nations.