Trump says the US doesn’t need Canada. But it’s the source of key minerals for the military | Vince Beiser
Trump himself has acknowledged the US need for Canadian aluminum – and has largely exempted metals from new tariffs As trade talks with Canada shambled toward collapse in late August, Donald Trump brayed on Truth Social: “WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!” But in fact, Canada, like China, has something the US needs badly: critical metals that undergird modern military technology. Canada is the…
Donald Trump, in a recent statement on social media, claimed that the United States does not require Canada, while Canada, in turn, needs the US. However, this assertion overlooks the critical minerals that Canada provides to the US, particularly for its military technology. In fact, Canada is the United States' largest foreign source of minerals, supplying approximately $47 billion worth of minerals each year.
A significant proportion of the aluminum used in the US annually – around 60% – comes from Canada. This metal is indispensable for the US military, being utilized in various components such as shell casings, ship hulls, and aircraft fuselages. The F-35 fighter jet, for instance, has an aluminum airframe comprising approximately 40%.
Moreover, the US military places a high emphasis on aluminum due to its lightweight nature, which offers numerous advantages. Trump himself recently expressed his need for aluminum, stating, "This country desperately needs aluminum... We get it all from Canada for the most part, and we need it badly."
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