Lutnick: Canada becoming US state 'best way' to merge economies
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Wednesday that Canada becoming a U.S. state is the “best way” to merge the two countries’ economies.
“The best way, the president has said it, the best way to actually merge the economies of Canada and the United States is for Canada to become our 51st state. If they want to merge it, that's how you make it the 51st state,” Lutnick said on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.”
Lutnick’s comments come amid recent tension between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs. On Tuesday, President Trump said he was going to raise planned steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada due to a surcharge on electricity from the Ontario government.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said later Tuesday that he would not go forward with the surcharge in the wake of an “olive branch” being offered by the U.S., which is a scheduled Thursday meeting with Lutnick.
Trump has previously suggested that Canada should “become the 51st state,” but Mark Carney, the soon-to-be prime minister of the U.S.’s neighbor to the north, said Sunday that “Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form.”
“But think about this for a second, why are American cars made in Canada? … Those jobs should be in America. And that's what the president thinks, and that's what he says and that's what he's going to execute,” Lutnick said Wednesday.
“So the key point is, Canada's going to have to work with us to really integrate their economy. And as the president said, they should consider the amazing advantages of being the 51st state of the United States of [America],” he added.
The Hill has reached out to Global Affairs Canada for comment.
-
White House says Canada would 'benefit greatly' from becoming 51st state
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Canada would "benefit greatly" from becoming the 51st state as tensions continue over tariffs.NBC News - 1d -
Trump's Canada, Mexico tariffs try to 'stop the bleeding' in US economy: UAW chief
President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico "are an attempt to stop the bleeding" in the U.S. economy, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said.ABC News - 3d -
Trump Intensifies ‘51st State’ Threats in Attack on Canada
The U.S. president on Tuesday reiterated his claims on Canada’s territory as he increased tariffs, threatening to bring the country’s economy to its knees.The New York Times - 1d -
US-Canada products are 99 percent tariff-free: Canadian ambassador to US
Canada's ambassador to the United States said 99% of products traded between the two nations are tariff-free.The Hill - 1d -
Lutnick defends Trump tariffs: ‘This is the way you run the country’
Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick defended President Trump’s approach to tariffs, saying on Sunday the president is focused on stopping fentanyl from entering the country and is actively engaging with ...The Hill - 3d -
3 Ways AI Can Create More Tailored Marketing Strategies for Retail Brands
Personalized marketing at scale used to be impossible. With AI, it’s become a reality.Inc. - 1d -
Lutnick says Trump tariffs 'worth it' even if they lead to recession
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday that President Trump’s tariff policies will be worth it, even if the economy ends up in a recession. In an interview that aired Tuesday, CBS News’s ...The Hill - 22h -
Rubio says Canada takeover won't be on G7 agenda
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that talk about the U.S. acquiring Canada will not be a topic of discussion when the Group of Seven (G7) nations meet in Quebec. Asked about President Trump's ...The Hill - 8h -
US pauses water-sharing negotiations with Canada over Columbia River
Break in talks comes as Trump escalates trade war with Canada and threatens its sovereignty. The United States has paused negotiations with Canada on a key water-sharing treaty as Donald Trump ...The Guardian - 10h
More from The Hill
-
Judge finds Trump unlawfully fired head of federal employee labor board
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that President Trump’s firing of the head of a board that resolves disputes between federal employees and the government was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Sparkle ...The Hill - 2h -
US puts Putin in hot seat with Ukraine ceasefire proposal
Presented by GE Aerospace — {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security PRESENTED BY The Big Story US puts Putin in hot seat with Ukraine ceasefire proposal The United States ...The Hill - 2h -
Distilled Spirits Council CEO warns European whiskey tariff could be 'very, very devastating'
The CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States on Wednesday warned that a European whiskey tariff would be "very, very devastating." “We've just gotten the news early, early this ...The Hill - 2h -
EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs
Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...The Hill - 3h -
Senate Democrats struggle with funding dilemma as shutdown deadline looms
Senate Democrats are staring down a major dilemma as they agonize over how to handle the GOP’s stopgap spending bill in the face of a potential government shutdown by the end of the week. ...The Hill - 3h
More in Politics
-
Judge finds Trump unlawfully fired head of federal employee labor board
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that President Trump’s firing of the head of a board that resolves disputes between federal employees and the government was unlawful. U.S. District Judge Sparkle ...The Hill - 2h -
US puts Putin in hot seat with Ukraine ceasefire proposal
Presented by GE Aerospace — {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security PRESENTED BY The Big Story US puts Putin in hot seat with Ukraine ceasefire proposal The United States ...The Hill - 2h -
Distilled Spirits Council CEO warns European whiskey tariff could be 'very, very devastating'
The CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States on Wednesday warned that a European whiskey tariff would be "very, very devastating." “We've just gotten the news early, early this ...The Hill - 2h -
Chuck Schumer is in a real shutdown mess. Can he lead Democrats out of it?
Despite pressure from the left to hold firm, some Democratic senators seem headed for an off-ramp.Politico - 2h -
EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs
Click for more from The Hill. {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story EPA sets stage for cutting climate and pollution regs The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...The Hill - 3h