Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Florida on Friday to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, following Trump’s threat to impose significant tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump had warned of a 25% tariff on products from both Canada and Mexico unless they take action to stop what he called the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across their borders. He made this statement as one of his first proposed executive actions.
Despite previously criticizing Trudeau as “weak” and “dishonest” during his first term, the relationship between the two leaders has remained strong. Trudeau became the first leader of a Group of Seven country to meet with Trump since the November 4 election.
The dinner was attended by several key figures, including Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who Trump tapped for Interior Secretary, and Mike Waltz, his choice for national security adviser. Also present were David McCormick, a newly elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and his wife Dina Powell, a former deputy national security adviser under Trump. Trudeau was joined by his chief of staff Katie Telford and Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
Trudeau, who declined to comment on his dinner upon returning to his hotel, had earlier expressed his commitment to resolving the tariff issue through direct talks with Trump. He noted that Trump had been elected on a promise to reduce the cost of living, but the proposed tariffs could raise prices, including on Canadian goods like potatoes from Prince Edward Island. Trudeau emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue to avoid harm to both Canadian and American businesses.
The potential tariffs could jeopardize the North American trade agreement that Trump’s administration had renegotiated, which Trudeau has described as a “win-win” for both countries. Trudeau is optimistic that the two nations can continue to work together, just as they did in the past.
Trump’s tariff threat came as part of his broader criticism of illegal immigration, despite the relatively low number of arrests at the Canadian border compared to the U.S.-Mexico border. In October alone, U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests along the southern border, compared to 23,721 at the northern border between Canada and the U.S. Similarly, the amount of fentanyl seized at the Canadian border is much smaller than that seized at the southern border.
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While Canadian officials argue that lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair, they are prepared to invest in border security. In response to Trump’s comments, Trudeau initiated a phone call to express his concerns.
In the past, Trump’s imposition of tariffs has led to retaliatory actions by other nations. In 2018, Canada responded to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum by imposing billions of dollars in tariffs on U.S. goods. As Trump’s new threat looms, Canadian officials are considering their own retaliation, though no final decision has been made.
With Canada being the top export destination for 36 U.S. states and vital to U.S. energy and manufacturing sectors, the potential fallout from trade tensions is significant. Canada provides the U.S. with a large portion of its crude oil, electricity, and critical materials, making the two countries highly interconnected.
Experts warn that Trump’s decisions are often influenced by short-term factors, which could lead to unpredictable outcomes. Nelson Wiseman, a professor at the University of Toronto, cautioned that Trump may act impulsively, especially in response to media coverage, potentially putting Canada in a difficult position.