Last week, Canada’s Liberal Party swept to victory in federal elections, with Prime Minister Mark Carney riding a wave of anti-Trump sentiment and using his victory speech to declare Canada would “never” yield to the US.
President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Canada, and threats to its sovereignty, dramatically transformed the election.
On trade: Trump’s decision to levy duties on Canadian steel and aluminum, cars and car parts, and threats to tariff pharmaceuticals and lumber have shaken Canadian businesses and pushed the country toward recession.
Canada has retaliated with tariffs on US imports, including on metal and cars.
On the G7: Trump and his aides have not made a final decision on attending the Group of 7 meeting, which Carney is hosting next month in Alberta.
On annexation: Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada and make it the US’ “51st state,” souring relations between the two longtime allies.
In an NBC interview on Sunday, Trump said it was “highly unlikely” he’d use military force to annex Canada.
“I don’t see it with Canada. I just don’t see it, I have to be honest with you,” he said.
He added that he’d talked on the phone with Carney after his election win, calling the Canadian leader a “very nice man.”
When asked whether annexation would come up during Carney’s visit, Trump responded: “I’ll always talk about that.”
Carney slammed Trump in his election victory speech:
Carney reiterated statements he had made on the campaign trail about the vastly changed nature of Canada’s relationship with the US.
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