Trump advisor threatens Canada with new border demarcation - Ottawa breaks off negotiations

Frankfurter Rundschau Trump advisor threatens Canada with new border demarcation - Ottawa breaks off negotiations Farhad Salmanian • 6 hours • 2 minutes reading time Tensions in US-Canada relations US President Donald Trump is causing tensions with Canada: border dispute, punitive tariffs and pipeline project are putting a strain on relations. How is Ottawa reacting? Washington - A high-ranking trade advisor to US President Donald Trump has proposed renegotiating the border between the USA and Canada. This is reported by the British newspaper The Telegraph, citing informed sources. The move by Peter Navarro, a close confidant of Trump, is causing considerable irritation in Ottawa. The Canadian government reacted immediately to the comments. It instructed its negotiating delegation to suspend talks with the USA until two new members of Trump's cabinet, Jameson Greer and Howard Lutnick, have been confirmed by the Senate. Both are considered more moderate voices in the Trump administration. The Canadian delegation was originally involved in trade talks with the US, which were led by Navarro. Trump considers Canada as 51st US state - Trudeau reacts decisively Trump has stated several times that he wants to make Canada the 51st state of the United States. In an interview during the Super Bowl pre-match coverage, he said: "I think Canada would be much better off as the 51st US state." He also referred to outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of Canada. These statements have caused concern in Canada. Trudeau was now caught in a confidential conversation saying that Trump's comments about Canada's incorporation as the 51st US state were "a real thing." Tensions between the US and Canada are escalating not only because of the border issue. Trump has announced that he wants to reinstate punitive tariffs of 25 percent on Canadian goods - a measure that is now to be implemented after a 30-day suspension. In response to punitive tariffs, Trudeau had announced retaliatory measures. "We are not interested in escalating this dispute, but we will defend Canada's interests with all determination," he said in this context. US government increases pressure on Canada with Keystone XL pipeline Parallel to the punitive tariffs, the US president is pushing for a resumption of the Keystone XL pipeline project. In a post on his social media platform, Trump called on the original construction company to continue its work. "The company that built the Keystone XL pipeline and that was stopped by the incompetent Biden administration should come back and build it now," he wrote. If the original company pulls out, "then maybe another pipeline company," he added. Trump's renewed push to revive the pipeline is in line with his energy policy, which is aimed at promoting fossil fuels. The Keystone XL project, first proposed in 2008, was intended to transport 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Canadian oil sands to U.S. refineries. However, former U.S. President Joe Biden revoked the necessary permit, leading to the project's cancellation. Environmentalists had long fought the plan over concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and potential leaks. It remains to be seen whether it can be realized in the face of previous opposition and legal challenges. Regardless of the ongoing disputes and tensions, the U.S. government has so far not officially commented on reports of Navarro's push for possible border shifts. However, the Canadian government has firmly rejected such proposals in the past. Trudeau emphasized in previous statements that Canada would never become part of the United States. (fsa with agency material)