Canadian FM strongly rejects Trump's inflammatory suggestion of joining US

Canada has reiterated its stance that it will never join the United States as its 51st state, Foreign Minister Anita Anand in an interview with Japan's NHK agency.

"Canada will never become the 51st state [of the US]. Period," she firmly said during her visit to Japan, Caliber.Az reports. 

According to the broadcaster, the minister’s sharp reaction was in response to previous provocative suggestions made by US President Donald Trump of this nature, where he repeatedly claimed that many Canadians support the idea of their country becoming the US' 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also repeatedly stated that his country will never, under any circumstances, become part of the United States.

In late June, Trump once again floated the idea, claiming that Canada is entirely dependent on the US, while the US, in his view, does not depend on Canada.

Talking to the Japanese agency on US President Donald Trump's tariff measures, the FM said Canada's steel and aluminum sector as well as auto industry are being hit hard and with workers feeling the "visceral effect" of the tariffs on their daily lives.

She announced that Canada's teams were working to reach agreement with the US by the July 21 deadline.

By Nazrin Sadigova