President Trump targets EU trade; still floating the idea of Canada being the 51st U.S State

This week, President Donald Trump flexed the power of the U.S. when it comes to trade. Mexico and Canada made concessions to avoid tariffs, and now Trump is looking at the European Union.

“Well, we have massive deficits with the European Union, massive like $350 billion, if you can believe it,” Pres. Trump said. “They don’t take our farm products. They don’t take our cars.”

Trump says the EU has abused the U.S. for years, and that needs to change. He also repeated the notion that it could be in Canada‘s best interest to become the 51st state of the United States, saying they have a lot more to lose than we do.

“Why are we willing to lose between $100 billion and $200 billion a year?” Trump said. “We don’t need that. As a state, it’s different, and there are no tariffs. I’d love to see that, but some people say that would be a long shot. If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they become a state.”

This week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered concessions to keep the tariffs at bay for at least a month. President Trump is expected to keep in talks with Canada and Mexico over the next 30 days.

Related Stories
Texas A&M livestock economist Dr. David Anderson joins Tony St. James to discuss the geopolitical tensions and U.S.-Mexico border closure that are leading to sharp swings in the cattle market.
Farm Bureau Economist Faith Parum discusses key outcomes from the U.S.-China trade agreement and the benefits of expanding trade across Southeast Asia.
“It does not extinguish right away here — in any sort of sense — the real profitability concerns and people’s ability to pay bills and get to the other side of this in the very short term. This is where the skepticism builds.”
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his perspective on the U.S.-China trade developments and their potential impact on American producers, farmers, and ranchers.
Rich Nelson, a commodity broker for Allendale Inc., joins us to break down what the U.S.-China trade agreement means for the ag economy.
The U.S.-China summit raises hopes for stronger exports and reduced barriers, but U.S. ag players should remain strategically cautious until concrete volumes and certifications materialize.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Danny Munch of the American Farm Bureau joined us to discuss USDA’s latest farm income forecast, revisions to prior estimates, and what the updated data means for farmers heading into 2026.
HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy calls on cattle producers to retain breeding cows while Ivomec receives emergency authorization to prevent New World screwworm.
SharkFarmer host Rob Sharkey takes us on a tour of the John Deere showcase on the trade show floor of CattleCon 2026 in Nashville.
Twisted Skillet’s Cantina Peanuts are a crispy bar snack made with raw Spanish peanuts, fried up with garlic, chile de árbol, and crunchy tortilla bits, creating a classic, savory Mexican “botana” or appetizer.
Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions provides remote water-monitoring technology to help ranchers manage livestock water more efficiently.
Jones Hamilton Company shares insights on herd health, efficiency, and innovation for cattle producers this year at NCBA CattleCon in Nashville.