Trump's latest barb: 'Canada ceases to exist as viable country without US subsidy'

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media as he departs the White House

US President Donald Trump in his latest tirade against Canada has said that the neighbouring country will not be viable without the support of the United States of America.Trump's response came a day after Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a 25 per cent retaliatory tariff in response to US tariffs.

In his Truth Social post, Trump took particular aim at Canada, which responded with retaliatory measures. Trump is placing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, with a 10 per cent tax on oil, natural gas and electricity. Canada is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on more than USD 155 billion on US products, including alcohol and fruit.

“We don't need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own Cars, and have more Lumber than we can ever use.” Despite Trump's claim that the US does not need Canada, one-quarter of the oil that the America consumes per day is from its ally to the north.

We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason. We dont need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own Cars, and have more Lumber than we can ever use. Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable

Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 2, 2025

Trump contended that without that surplus, "Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!” Canada's ambassador to Washington has said the US had a USD 75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year, but noted that one-third of what Canada sells into the US is energy exports and that there is a deficit when oil prices are high. About 60 per cent of US crude oil imports are from Canada.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Sunday that Americans could feel “some pain” from the emerging trade war triggered by his tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China, and claimed that Canada would “cease to exist” without its trade surplus with the United States.

The trade penalties that Trump signed Saturday at his Florida resort caused a mix of panic, anger and uncertainty, and threatened to rupture a decades-old partnership on trade in North America while further straining relations with China.

“WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!),” Trump said in a social media post. “BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.” His administration has not said how high that price could be or what improvements would need to be seen in stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of fentanyl to merit the removal of the tariffs that Trump imposed under the legal justification of an economic emergency. The tariffs are set to launch Tuesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is encouraging Canadians to buy more Canadian goods, and says Trump's moves will only cause pain across North America. More than 75 per cent of Canada's exports go to the US.

“It is going to have real consequences for people, for workers on both sides of our border," Trudeau said Saturday night. “We don't want to be here. We didn't ask for this but we will not back down in standing up both for Canadians and for the incredible successful relationship between Canada and the United States.” Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also announced new tariffs and suggested the US should do more within its own borders to address drug addiction.