I read an article by Christine Dulion that cited a Canadian poll. The poll found that 57% of Canadians want President Trump to apologize for his 51st state comment. Dulion admits there is no proof that an apology would lead to increased tourism, but she thinks it might help.
I doubt it.
Most people, both Canadians and Americans, don’t realize why Trump made the comment. Prime minister Justin Trudeau argued that Canada needed access to U.S. markets without tariffs and needed to keep its tariffs in place to continue to exist. Canada was also failing to make its commitment on defense spending. It seems to me to be a logical extension that if they want free access to our markets and our protection, they should be a state.
It should be noted that in 2014 all NATO countries agreed to spend 2% of their GDP on defense within 10 years. In 2014, Canada was spending .99% of GDP. By 2023 it was spending 1.29%. Canada was expected to reach 2% of GDP in 2025. Meanwhile, Americans spent 3.5%. Remember that is a percentage of GDP. In terms of dollars, U.S. is spending $980 Billion compared to NATO Europe plus Canada spending $657 Billion.
Now, back to the lead article by Dulion. I often like to look at the opposite statistic. Twenty eight percent of Canadians oppose the idea of demanding an apology. That leaves 15% unsure. She admitted, “For some travelers, the decision to avoid the U.S. has been about politics. For others, it has been about a weaker Canadian dollar, tariffs, border anxiety, or the feeling that the U.S. is less welcoming than it used to be.”
Some businesses in Blaine are suffering because of decreased Canadian traffic. I am seeing more and more Canadian license plates. They are not tourists. It seems that most are not white. They are our neighbors to the north who come here to buy milk and gasoline, avoiding the Canadian high prices. There is a sign at a local store that the maximum amount of milk Canadians can take across the border is $20.
So, the descendants of white western Europeans are afraid to come to the U.S. because of our borders. At the same time, we have descendants of Eastern Europe and Asia (the ones some claim should be afraid to come) coming. It has gotten crazy.
Recently, one of my Canadian relatives came for a visit. Before he came, someone asked him if he was afraid he would be shot at the border. He said, “No, it’s the same as it always was.” It isn’t just about the 51st state comment. Where are Canadians getting the idea that they might be shot for entering the U.S. legally? I live on the border. Nobody has been shot here. I’ve seen border patrol kindly asking Canadians to cross back to a common park area.
Who gains? Will China or Europe gain from the anti-American sentiment being promoted by some politicians and media? Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is traveling around the world trying to make trade deals. He seems to be primarily interested in China and the European Union. He wants to diversify and get away from reliance on the U.S. I think it is a great idea. There are a couple of tiny problems, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The U.S. is a major market for the world. In 2025, Canada exported nearly $409 billion to the U.S. That was roughly 18% of Canada’s GDP. It didn’t have to cross an ocean. It just goes by rail, pipeline, or truck.
I think the 51st state comment was unfortunate. It is also very impractical. Canadian provinces can’t get along with each other. Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and now Alberta have all considered leaving Canada. Quebec had elections on the topic in 1980 and 1995. Alberta may have an election on separation this fall. Imagine a state in which every county bickered. What a mess!
Although the 51st state comment was unfortunate and impractical, it made a point. If Canada and the other NATO countries want to be taken seriously as allies, they can’t rely on the U.S. to shoulder their responsibilities.
Will apology help? I doubt it. The problem is much deeper. It is centralized government control and the high prices that go with it versus a free market with subsidies to encourage risk. Both sides want tariffs to protect their industries.
As Pentanomics points out, negotiation is the key to international relations. We must make agreements that benefit all.
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