If we are subsidising Canada, Mexico let them become a US state: Trump

PTI Washington: Observing the US is subsidising its two neighbours Canada and Mexico to the tune of USD 100 billion and USD 300 billion, respectively, incoming US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that if that is the case then these two countries better be a part of America. Trump, 78, has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on both Canada and Mexico if they don't stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the US through their territories. “We're subsidising Canada to the tune of over USD 100 billion a year.

We're subsidising Mexico for almost USD 300 billion. We shouldn't be subsidising. Why are we subsidising these countries? If we're going to subsidise them, let them become a state (of the US),” Trump told NBC News in an interview, his first on a Sunday talk show after winning the November 5 presidential elections. “We're subsidising Mexico and Canada, and we're subsidising many countries all over the world. All I want to do is have a level, fast, but fair playing field,” he asserted. Trump refuted the observations by some American CEOs that tariffs would cost the US and increase the cost of common commodities thus putting a strain on common people.

“They cost Americans nothing. They made a great economy for us. They also solve another problem. If we were going to have problems having to do with wars and having to do with other things, tariffs, I have stopped wars with tariffs by saying, you guys want to fight, it's great, but both of you are going to pay tariffs to the United States at 100 per cent. They have many purposes (for), tariffs if properly used. I don't say you use them like a madman. I say properly used.”