Tensions Rise as Trudeau Accuses Trump of Economic Warfare Against Canada

After President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a striking statement that largely went unnoticed amid the chaos.

“The excuse that he’s giving for these tariffs today of fentanyl is completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

“What he wants is to see a total collapse of the Canadian economy, because that’ll make it easier to annex us,” he added.

This marks a dramatic shift from December when Trudeau initially thought Trump was joking after referring to him as “governor” and Canada as “the 51st state.”

Escalating Tensions and the February Calls

Trump and Trudeau had two key phone calls on February 3, discussing ways to prevent tariffs on Canadian exports. However, the conversations went beyond trade. According to sources with direct knowledge, Trump voiced grievances about Canada’s dairy sector, banking restrictions, and consumption taxes.

Most alarmingly, Trump questioned the legitimacy of the 1908 treaty that defines the Canada-US border and suggested revising it. He also raised concerns about water-sharing agreements regarding the Great Lakes.

Trudeau and his administration took the comments seriously, especially given Trump’s previous remarks. Before his inauguration, he had publicly stated he planned to bring Canada “to its knees” using “economic force.”

Trade War and Growing Concerns

Despite Trudeau securing a temporary delay in tariffs, the US implemented them on Tuesday, prompting Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs. The dispute has escalated into a full-blown trade war. By Thursday, Trump granted a monthlong suspension on most tariffs, but tensions remained high.

Recent reports from the Toronto Star and Financial Times confirm that Trump’s administration is seriously reconsidering its agreements with Canada. Discussions in the White House have included removing Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance and reviewing military cooperation, including NORAD.

Canadian Alarm and Uncertain Future

The Canadian government is growing increasingly concerned, particularly over Trump’s social media references to Canada as the 51st state and Trudeau as its governor. While some viewed this as negotiation tactics, officials now believe the threats are real.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly told Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc that Trump sees the Canada-US relationship as a collection of easily abandoned agreements. Trump has also signaled interest in scrapping the Great Lakes agreements and revisiting military partnerships.

The only reassuring voice has been Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has downplayed concerns about military cooperation. However, Canadian officials remain deeply uneasy about what they see as a new, unpredictable chapter in US-Canada relations.

At a Thursday news conference, a reporter asked Trudeau about the situation, referencing his foreign affairs minister’s remarks calling it a psychodrama.

“Thursday,” Trudeau quipped ruefully.