Washington – The nominee for President Trump’s role as Canadian ambassador affirmed the country’s sovereignty on Thursday, a presidential repeated threat to make it part of the United States.
“Canada is a sovereign state, yes,” Pete Hoekstra said at a confirmation hearing for Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware.
Hoekstra also said that the two countries “have a history of joint efforts.” He added that Mr Trump’s “free, fairer trade” priorities would “develop business relationships with Canada.”
On Thursday, Mr. Trump questioned the international border between the United States and Canada, calling it a “artificial line” drawn decades ago.
“It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
This week, Mr. Trump 25% tariff If the country does not suspend its new 25% surcharge, imports of steel and aluminum from Canada and threatens to double it.
Mr. Trump has proved that tariffs protect U.S. interests, although existing trade agreements with Canada are He negotiated and signed during his first term. The president suggested that Canada should acquiesce his annexation demands relief from economic pressure.
“The only meaningful thing is to make Canada the fifty first states we cherish,” Trump wrote on Tuesday. “This will make all taxes, and everything else disappear completely. Canadians will have a huge reduction in taxes, they will be safer than ever, military and otherwise, no longer have the northern border issues, the world’s largest and most powerful nation will be bigger and stronger than ever, and Canada will be a big part of it.”
