Donald Trump suggests 'solution' for Canada to avoid tariffs in brutal message as trade war escalates

The 47th president of the US has taken to social media to suggest how Canada can pay 'much lower taxes' and avoid tariffs.

Yesterday (February 1), Donald Trump signed off on an order imposing 'catastrophic' tariffs to 'hold China, Mexico and Canada accountable for their promises to halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the US'.

The order places 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico and a 10 percent tax on China and to back this further, Trump also declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The tariffs come into effect on Tuesday (February 4).

An announcement released by the White House states the tariffs are part of Trump 'taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country'.

"There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans," the order claims. "Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years."

Canada has responded to the order by revealing it's set to impose a 25 percent counter-tariff on CA $155 billion of US goods with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying it will 'have real consequences' for 'the American people' and the White House's actions will ultimately cause a 'split' rather than 'bringing us together'.

And Trump has since revealed his suggestion for a way for Canada to avoid such a tariff - that Canada 'should become our Cherished 51st State'.

Trump suggested a way for Canada to avoid the tariffs (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In a post to Truth Social earlier today (February 2), Trump wrote: "We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason.

"We don’t need anything they have. We have unlimited Energy, should make our own Cars, and have more Lumber than we can ever use. Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true!

"Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!"

Trump took to Truth Social to make the suggestion (Truth/ @realDonaldTrump)

Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum has also spoken out in response to the White House's announcement of tariffs stating the country 'categorically reject[s] the White House's slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organizations'.

During a press briefing on Friday (January 31st), Sheinbaum said: "We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, depending on what the government of the United States decides.

"It is very important for the people of Mexico to know that we will always defend the dignity of our people, that we will always defend respect for our sovereignty, and engage in dialogue as equals, as we have always stated, without subordination."