As Canada prepares to host the G7 foreign ministers summit, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is set to raise urgent concerns over the escalating trade war with the United States and perceived threats to Canadian sovereignty. Joly intends to warn her European and British counterparts that if the United States can impose aggressive tariffs on Canada, their closest ally, then no nation is truly safe from similar economic tactics. Despite the G7's official agenda focusing on Ukraine, the Middle East, Haiti, and Venezuela, Joly is determined to spotlight the implications of Trump’s trade policies, describing Canada as the "canary in the coal mine." This statement emphasizes her belief that Canada’s economic strain may signal broader risks for other Western economies. The ongoing dispute stems from Donald Trump’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum exports. In response, Canada retaliated with counter-tariffs on approximately $20 billion worth of American goods, escalating tensions between the two allies.
 

Joly has strongly criticized Trump’s actions, calling the tariffs an act of economic coercion. She emphasized that Canada's retaliation is not just about trade but about defending the nation's sovereignty in the face of what she described as mounting threats from Washington. At the heart of the controversy lies Trump’s repeated comments suggesting that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed these remarks, stating Trump’s suggestion was “economic” in nature rather than a serious political strategy, the rhetoric has deeply unsettled Canadians. Rubio claimed that Trump’s comments stem from the belief that annexing Canada would simplify border management and prevent issues like fentanyl trafficking. However, this narrative has done little to ease Canadian anxieties, particularly with Trump’s threats to expand tariffs on all Canadian imports.
 

As Canada prepares to swear in a new Prime Minister, the tension between the two nations has intensified. Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney has vowed to confront what he describes as an “economic and sovereign crisis.” Carney warned that Trump’s ambitions extend beyond tariffs, claiming that the U.S. aims to gain control over Canadian resources, water, and land. "The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country," Carney declared. "If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life." Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in his farewell address, echoed similar concerns. Trudeau warned that democracy and freedom should not be taken for granted, adding ominously, "Even Canada is not a given." The strained relationship between Canada and the United States is now at a historic low. The situation highlights deepening geopolitical tensions, with Canada pushing back against what it perceives as economic bullying from its powerful southern neighbor. As the G7 summit approaches, Joly's warning to world leaders reflects growing fears that Trump’s trade war tactics and expansionist rhetoric could destabilize international economic relations. With Canada’s sovereignty under threat, the stakes are high as diplomatic talks unfold.