With Canada’s April 28 federal election looming, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited tensions between the two nations by stating that Canada’s economy and sovereignty are wholly dependent on U.S. trade.
During a signing event in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump declared, “Canada would cease to exist as a country if we stopped buying their goods.” The remarks have drawn fierce criticism in Ottawa and rekindled concerns over Trump’s previously floated idea of economically absorbing Canada as the 51st U.S. state.
Although he abandoned that rhetoric following a private call with Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney last month, Trump has since doubled down on aggressive trade positions including 25% tariffs on Canadian automobiles and components.
Trump’s comments are being viewed by political observers as a deliberate intervention in Canada’s election, where Carney is campaigning to strengthen domestic trade and insulate the nation from Trump-era economic shocks.
In response, Carney told voters, “We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away.” He renewed his commitment to eliminating internal trade barriers among Canada’s provinces by July 1 a move he says will boost economic self-reliance.
The tariffs, which could increase further, threaten to disrupt a century-old automotive ecosystem between the two countries. U.S. automakers, already bracing for a projected $107.7 billion in added costs due to the new tariffs, have pleaded for relief but Trump has remained firm, stating, “We don’t want Canada to make cars for us.”
In retaliation, Canada has adjusted its countermeasures to reward manufacturers who keep operations north of the border. Companies that continue to invest in Canadian plants will enjoy exemptions on a portion of U.S.-assembled vehicles imported into Canada.
What began as an economic disagreement has now spiraled into a broader conversation about Canadian independence and identity. Trump’s assertion that Canada relies on the U.S. for its survival has triggered bipartisan condemnation and sparked debate over how Canada should navigate an increasingly unpredictable trade relationship with its southern neighbor.
Internationally, allies are watching closely as tensions rise between two of North America’s closest partners. For Canadians heading to the polls, the election has suddenly become more than a domestic affair it’s a referendum on how the nation defines itself in a post-Trump world.
