Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie told the BBC that he was taking the remarks of US President Donald Trump for turning Canada into the 51st country of his country “very serious”.
“This is no longer a joke,” Jolie told Newsnight. “There is a reason the Canadians when they go out for a hockey game, they hit the American national anthem … We're offended. We're crazy. We are angry.”
Her comments come after Trump imposed 25% rates on products entering the United States from Canada on Tuesday. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called this “a very stupid thing to do” and announce raised rates.
However, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Luni said Trump “probably” will probably announce a deal to reduce tariffs on Wednesday.
In response, Jolie told the BBC that “at the end of the day, the only one who really made a decision was President Trump.”
She said no secretaries of the Trump administration had contacted their Canadian counterparts on Monday or Tuesday for the rates.
However, Trump and Trudeau are expected to talk on the phone on Wednesday morning, according to sources who spoke to CNN and the Toronto star.
Ghetto imagesTrump announced 25% rates for Canada and Mexico on February 4, but delayed administration until March 4. Canadian energy imports face 10% tariff.
Ontario Doug Ford Prime Minister has applied a 25% additional charge on electricity exports to three US states and if tariffs escalate, said he would think Cutting Michigan, New York and Minnesota from Canadian rule.
Trump also imposed a 10% tariff for goods worth over $ 800 (645 pounds) from China in February, which doubled in March. China responded with its own tariffs.
the White House said When he introduced the tariffs The fact that “take bold action to hold (the three countries) responsible for their promises to stop illegal immigration and stop poison fentanyl and other drugs from running in our country.”
Fentanyl is associated with tens of thousands of deaths from overdose in the United States every year.
Trudeau said his country was responsible for less than 1% of fentanyl entering the United States.
Canada had introduced new security measures at the borders In December, in response to Trump's tariff threats before taking office.
“We didn't want this trade war. We did everything that was required under the execution order to make sure that our border was safe and secure,” Jolie told the BBC, but said “this is a fake excuse by Trump's administration against us.”
Jolie said Canada was a “canarian in the coal mine”, after which the Europeans and the United Kingdom. Trump threatened 25% tariffs and in the European Union.
She said Canada and the United Kingdom have to work together: “That's why I went to London to make sure that if there are tariffs, we have to work well on counter-tarifes.”
Jolie said Canada's public manifestations for discontent against the United States are not “against the American people. We are the best friends of the American people.”
She called the tariffs for the most large trading partner of the United States an “existential threat”.
“We can't take off our security,” she said. “We must be sure we are fighting.”