Trump Confirms Canada Desperately Wants To Be American State

US-Canada trade talks collapsed on Friday night after both sides accused the other of moving the goalposts at the last minute, triggering 50% American tariffs on Canadian wine, dairy, cement, steel and hockey equipment, and prompting President Trump to post on Truth Social at an unspecified hour with the message that Canada wants “the benefits of being a State, without being one.”

Canada, which has universal healthcare, lower gun deaths, functioning public broadcasting, and a life expectancy slightly above that of its southern neighbour, said it was “not for sale.” Trump replied “never say never,” which is the traditional diplomatic formula for this situation.

The benefits of US statehood that Canada is allegedly desperate to access were not enumerated in the post. Analysts have speculated they may include the right to have a congressman nobody can find, participation in a healthcare system that charges $900 for an ambulance ride, and the opportunity to have its dairy industry subjected to 50% tariffs.

Both countries had been optimistic of a deal earlier in the week; but talks collapsed after the US requested last-minute changes to the agreement, at which point Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recalled his negotiators from Washington, announced dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs from September, and described the situation as a looming trade war.

“They asked too much and offered too little,” Carney said.

Trump said this proved Canada wanted to be a state to reap American benefits.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Canada would “never” become the 51st state.

Header: Shutterstock /Andrzej Rostek