Behind closed doors says Trudeau that Trump -threat about taking over Canada is real

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada made his first comments on Friday in response to President Trump’s repeated statements that he wants to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.

Mr. Trudeau made it clear that he did not consider Trump’s statements that have been made in jokes and believes that annexing is something Canada needs to treat as a serious threat.

And he thinks he knows why Mr. Trump desire Canada.

“I suggest that not only the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have, but it may even be why they are still talking about absorbing us and making us the 51.” Trudeau to a collection of business leaders and business leaders in Toronto, according to people in space listening to his comments.

The news media had been asked to leave the room at the time when Mr. Trudeau delivered his comments, but at least two news sites, the Toronto star and CBC, were able to hear them and register them. Mr. Trudeau’s office refused to give details of what the prime minister said.

“They are very aware of our resources,” Mr. Trudeau, “About what we have and they would very much like to be able to take advantage of them.”

And he continued, “But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways to do it absorb our country. And that’s a real thing. “

Mr. Trump has talked about annexing Canada for weeks as he has laid the basis for plans to introduce 25 percent tariff rates on Canadian exports to the United States.

Monday, Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Trump a 30-day postponement on customs rates after Canada promised to adopt a stricter plan to secure his boundary to the United States.

During comments on journalists that day in the Oval Office, Trump again raised the state of state. “What I would like to see, Canada will be our 51.” He said. “I would very much like to see it, but some people say it would be a long shot,” he added.

Canada is home to 31 minerals considered critical for use in various industries, including for electric car batteries, solar panels and semiconductors. Of those, Canada prioritizes lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements as part of a strategy to place himself as a leader in the global transition away from fossil fuels.

The supply chain is deeply integrated and the health of the US economy depends on Canada, said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s industry minister.

“This is about a confident Canada,” Mr. Champagne for journalists at Friday’s meeting.

As part of its plan to avert tariffs, Canada implements a border security plan in response to Mr. Trump’s accusations that the country contributes to “massive” fentanyl trading to the United States, although Canada is responsible for a small fraction of Fentanyl crosses the border.

These measures include 10,000 staff assigned to the limit along with helicopters, drones and dog teams. The government also said it would name a “fentanyl czar” to lead the answer.

“We have to be very aware of how we continue to engage closely with the United States to make the case and demonstrate that Canada is responsible for a small part of the North American fentanyl problem, ” said Mr. Trudeau to the business leaders, “But that we are also bitterly touched by this tragedy.”