TL/DR –
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with US President-elect Donald Trump following threats of a 25% tax on all Canadian and Mexican products entering the US. The three-hour dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club covered topics including trade, border security, fentanyl, and the upcoming G7 meeting. Trudeau is confident that through discussions, he will be able to mitigate the potential tariff issue and maintain a strong relationship with the US.
Canadian Prime Minister Meets President-Elect Trump Over Tariff Threats
Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister, attended a dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump in Florida’s Mar-a-Lago club, addressing the potential imposition of tariffs on Canadian products. Trump has threatened a 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico as part of his initial executive orders if these nations fail to halt drug and migrant flow across their borders.
The dinner, described as a “positive wide-ranging discussion that lasted three hours,” covered topics such as trade, border security, defense, NATO, China, pipelines, the fentanyl crisis, Ukraine, and the upcoming G7 meeting in Canada. Despite previous tensions, the two countries maintain a close relationship. Trudeau is the first G7 leader to meet Trump post the Nov. 4 election.
RELATED STORY | Trump’s sweeping new tariff threats on Mexico, Canada, and China on first day in office
Present at the dinner were several influential figures, including Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, Mike Waltz, the nominee for national security adviser, and newly elected U.S. senator David McCormick. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc also attended, along with Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff.
However, the Trump transition team did not reveal what discussions took place during the dinner. Trudeau, optimistic about averting a tariff war with the US, mentioned resolving the issue through constructive conversations with Trump.
“It’s crucial to realize that when Donald Trump makes such statements, he intends to execute them. We must highlight the potential harm to both Canadians and Americans,” Trudeau said, referring to a potential 25% increase in the cost of various products, including Prince Edward Island potatoes.
Trump’s tariff threat, which could disrupt the North American trade pact, was made amidst concerns of illegal migration. However, the number of illegal migrants from the Canadian border is significantly lower compared to the southern border. RELATED STORY | What should consumers expect from Trump’s tariff discussions with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum?
Despite lower seizures of fentanyl from the Canadian border compared to Mexico, Trump has criticized both countries. Canadian officials have expressed readiness to make new investments in border security in response.
Previous tariffs imposed by Trump during his first term led to counter tariffs from other nations. Canada is considering retaliatory tariffs on specific US items if Trump goes ahead with his tariff imposition, according to a senior official.
—
Read More US Political News