In a tense call with Trudeau, Trump questions border demarcation, trade deals, and intelligence-sharing agreements.
Washington DC [US], March 9: Amid an escalating tariff war between the United States and Canada, President Donald Trump reportedly challenged the validity of the century-old border treaty and expressed his desire to revise the international boundary, according to a report by The New York Times.
During a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in early February, Trump questioned existing water-sharing agreements and raised concerns over Canada’s protected dairy sector, banking policies, and consumption taxes, which he deemed unfair to American businesses.
"Trump Wants the Collapse of Canada’s Economy to Annex Us": Trudeau
Trudeau did not hold back in criticizing Trump’s latest stance on tariffs and trade relations between the two nations.
“The excuse that he's giving for these tariffs today of fentanyl is completely bogus, completely unjustified, completely false,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.
“What he wants is to see a total collapse of the Canadian economy because that will make it easier to annex us.”
The remarks, though overshadowed by other geopolitical developments, highlight the deepening tensions between Washington and Ottawa.
Trump Wants to Tear Up Longstanding Agreements
According to the report, Trump’s grievances with Canada include:
The 1908 border demarcation treaty – which finalized the international boundary. Great Lakes agreements – which regulate the shared use of Lakes Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance – which includes the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Several anonymous sources with firsthand knowledge of the conversation confirmed that Trump was serious about reconsidering these agreements, with some in the Canadian government deeply worried about the implications.
"Economic Force" and Growing Political Tensions
Trump has repeatedly targeted Canada on social media, referring to it as the "51st state" and calling Trudeau a “Governor” rather than Prime Minister—rhetoric that has irritated Canadian politicians and stoked fears of economic retaliation.
Following the call, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly informed Canada’s Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc that the Trump administration viewed these treaties as 'easy to abandon' and was exploring options to economically pressure Canada.
While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed threats of scrapping military cooperation, concerns persist within Canada’s political circles. The review of NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) has raised alarms over the future of US-Canada defense relations.
Canada Braces for an Uncertain Future
With Trump preparing to impose reciprocal tariffs on April 2, Canadian officials are bracing for a more aggressive stance from Washington, signaling what many see as a "new normal" in US-Canada relations.
Despite the rising tensions, Trudeau and his administration remain committed to maintaining diplomatic stability, even as Trump’s unpredictable policies continue to disrupt decades of cross-border cooperation.
Tags: US-Canada Relations, Trump Trudeau Call, Border Treaty, Trade War, US Tariffs on Canada, Five Eyes, Great Lakes Agreement, US-Canada Tensions, NORAD, Economic Force
Last Updated on March 9, 2025 by Sandeep
