Canada as 51st state of US? What the chatter is all about

US President-elect Donal Trump, during his last week's meeting with Canadian Prime MinisterPrime MinisterPrime Minister Justin Trudeau, reportedly joked about making Canada the 51st state of the United States to avoid high tariffs. Mr Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday to have dinner with the incoming US President after the latter threatened to slap high tariffs on Canadian imports unless Ottawa prevents migrants and drugs from crossing the frontier.

During dinner at Mr Trump's private Mar-a-Lago estate, the Canadian Prime Minister reportedly promised the President-elect that Ottawa would toughen controls over the long undefended joint border. Canada sends 75 per cent of all goods and services exports to the United States and tariffs would badly hurt the economy.

However, new details have emerged about the meeting, which Mr Trump had earlier called "very productive."