In an unprecedented move, US President Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, escalating an already tense trade war between the two North American nations. But what truly shocked observers was Trump’s reiteration of his desire to annex Canada, suggesting that the best way to resolve the economic dispute would be for Canada to become the 51st state of the United States. This announcement has further strained relations between Washington and Ottawa, with Canada’s incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney vowing to fight back against US economic aggression.

On March 11, Trump announced the tariff increase via his social media platform, Truth Social. He justified the decision as a response to Ontario’s imposition of a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the United States. Calling Canada “one of the highest tariffing nations anywhere in the world,” Trump ordered his Commerce Secretary to enforce the additional 25% tariff, bringing the total to 50% on all Canadian steel and aluminum imports.

In addition to metal tariffs, Trump also demanded that Canada remove its high tariffs on American dairy products, which range from 250% to 390%. Failure to comply, he warned, would result in further punitive measures, including restrictions on the Canadian automobile industry that could “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business.”

Trump’s move comes just weeks after he initially imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian imports in early February. Although he delayed full implementation until early March, his administration granted temporary exemptions for Canadian automakers and other goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) until April. In response, Ottawa slapped $30........

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