Trump Tries Buying Canada With Tariffs, Not Hockey Pucks
KEY POINTS
- •In early 2025, Trump proposed making Canada the 51st US state and imposed a 25% tariff.
- •Canada retaliated with boycotts on American liquor and a 25% tariff on C$30 billion in US goods.
- •The trade war influenced Canada’s April election, helping Liberal Mark Carney beat Conservative Pierre Poilievre.
In a 2025 diplomatic soap opera that makes Game of Thrones look tame, Trump announced plans to make Canada America's 51st state—not with tanks, but a spicy 25% tariff slap debuted February 4, after a dramatic 30-day pause triggered by a phone chat with Trudeau. Trump called the US-Canada border 'artificial,' like one of those fakey TMZ celebrity relationships, and blamed Canada for fentanyl flows that it barely contributed to (0.2% of seizures!). Canadians, led by PM Justin Trudeau's 'not a chance in hell' tweet, went full boycott mode: ditching US booze, plastering 'T' stickers, and launching a 'Buy Canadian' renaissance. Even more Tariffs™ piled in—steel imports got a 50% jolt June 4, with a 35% tariff on other goods by July's end. Amidst this, Ontario ran a Reagan ad warning against tariffs, prompting Trump's tariff temper tantrum and freezing trade talks. Meanwhile, Canadian voters dumped Conservative Pierre Poilievre—the Trump fanboy—handing Liberal Mark Carney a sweet comeback in April. It’s basically America’s most passive-aggressive breakup, complete with luxury tariffs, political plot twists, and liquor-laden retaliation.
Share the Story
When your neighbor threatens to annex you with tariffs and Reagan ads, maybe consider sending maple syrup instead of threats next time.
Canada just proved you can fight American aggression with bourbon boycotts and ’Buy Canadian’ stickers. Who knew trade wars needed flavor?
Trump’s plan to make Canada the 51st state is the world’s most passive-aggressive real estate pitch: tariffs, phone calls, then freeze trade talks like awkward dating.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 12/28/2025 | Author: Katherine Li
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