Trudeau says Trump is serious about wanting to annex Canada | Canada

Donald Trump’s recent fixation to absorb Canada is “a real thing”, Justin Trudeau has told business leaders warning that the US president wants access to his northern neighbor’s huge supply of critical minerals.

The trooping prime minister was in Toronto for a quick called Summit of Business and Labor Leaders and tried to coordinate a response Trump’s threatening threat of a 25% duty on all Canadian imports.

Earlier this week, Trump supported away from tariffs that would have destroyed Canada’s economy, giving one of his country’s largest trading partners a 30-day exposure to further negotiations.

But he has continued to scorn Canadian sovereignty and repeated his description of the country as “51st state” on social media and repeatedly calls Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister.

Friday’s summit included discussions about stinging the movement of fentanyl, security at the border and the challenge of interprovinsial trade, but Trudeau later told an audience that the president’s threats of annexation – often considered a negotiating tactic – were serious and had to be taken as such.

“I suggest that the Trump administration not only know how many critical minerals we have, but it may even be why they are still talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state,” Trudeau reportedly told participants.

“They are very aware of our resources what we have and they want to be able to take advantage of them very much,” he said. “But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways to do it is to absorb our country.”

Canada is rich in minerals that are considered critical for the green energy transition, including lithium, graphite, nickel, copper and cobalt, and have tried to place themselves as a trusted and stable supplier of raw materials to the Allied nations.

Trump’s threats, which have risen the long -standing relationship between the two countries, have dramatically reshaped federal politics and launched a new era of patriotism. With a choice that threatens, all parties shrink to portray themselves as patriotic and ready to defend the sovereignty of the country.

In Quebec, where provincial sovereignists have experienced an increase in popularity, the number of people demanding a referendum on the provincial detachment has fallen. Between December and February, people in Quebec rose who said they were “very proud” or “proud” to be Canadian rose 13 points from 45% to 58%, according to a Angus Reid Poll.

On Friday, federal enclosure ministers tried to reassure participants.

“Our American friends understand that they need Canada for their financial security, they need Canada for their energy security and they need Canada for their national security,” the industry minister François-Philippe Champagne told AFP.

The Minister of Commerce, Anita Anand, said there would be “no mess” with the limit.

“Canada is free. Canada is sovereign, ”Minister of Employment, Steven Mackinnon, told journalists. “Canada chooses her own destiny, very much thanks.”