Trudeau says Canada as 51st state is a non-starter, vows tariff response – National [Video]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state is a “non-starter” as he vowed to respond to incoming tariffs.

As Trump’s tariff threat looms, Canadian premiers, who are in Washington, D.C., are set to meet with senior advisors to the U.S. president at the White House Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters earlier in Brussels on Wednesday, Trudeau said Canada does not want to be in a trade dispute with the U.S., but if Trump follows through on his threats, “we will be equally unequivocal in our response.”

“Canada will respond as appropriate in a calibrated but extremely strong way, regardless of what the U.S. moves forward with,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau is visiting the Belgian capital to strengthen Canada’s relations with its European allies as tariff tensions with the United States continue.

On Monday, Trump said he would impose 25 per …