Washington: US President Donald Trump has ordered Lake Ontario to be referred to as “Lake America” in the United States, adding a provocative new element to growing tensions with Canada over trade.
Trump signed an order on Thursday directing the change for the US government’s geographic naming service. The move applies to US usage, but Washington cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name for the lake, which is shared by the two countries.
The renaming comes as the US and Canada remain locked in a deepening trade dispute. The Trump administration recently imposed 50 per cent tariffs on $20 billion worth of goods after trade negotiations between the two countries broke down.
Canada has responded with retaliatory tariffs covering about $20 billion of US products, including steel, dairy goods, appliances and agricultural equipment.
Map displays name
During the signing ceremony at the White House, a large map of the Great Lakes was displayed behind Trump, with the words “Lake America” marked prominently over Lake Ontario.
Another map carried the slogan “MAKING THE GREAT LAKES EVEN GREATER.”
Trump has repeatedly criticised Canada over trade since returning to the White House. Has also suggested that the country could become the 51st US state, comments that have further strained relations between the traditional allies.
Speaking to reporters, Trump described Canada as difficult to negotiate with on trade. The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Another geographic name change
The decision echoes Trump’s earlier push to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” in US government usage. Trump suggested that his campaign to rename bodies of water could continue.
“If you think about it, we have a gulf. We have a lake. Now all we need is an ocean,” he said, adding that the Atlantic or Pacific could potentially be renamed. Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes. Forms part of the international boundary between the United States and Canada.