MP weighs in on Trump’s Tariffs and 51st State Comments

By Richard Coffin

MP Anthony Rota says Canada needs to retaliate ‘on an equal basis’ to tariffs imposed by the United States.  

He made the comment on Monday, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump announcing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from Canada, will start in March.  

Rota says this creates instability, adding Canada needs to look at diversification.

“Here’s a real opportunity to do so,” he says. “There’s a crisis south of us and if we can expand into other markets, it basically makes our future stronger.” 

Nipissing-Timiskaming’s MP was also asked about Trump ratcheting up the talk around making Canada the 51st state. 

“It started off as a joke but he’s serious about it and that’s very troubling,” Rota says. “Now he’s talking about annexing.  He’s taking this right from Putin’s playbook, or Xi’s playbook.  We don’t need another global dictator in the world.  By creating that destabilization and trying to destroy an economy he’s then trying to come in as a savior.  That’s not going to work.”

Canada’s premiers are in Washington, D-C for the next two days, as they press their arguments against tariffs. 

They have a full slate of meetings with politicians, government leaders, and business executives as they make their case. 

**With files from Norman Jack