EGN NEWS DESK
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago membership after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise.
Trump threatened to impose tariffs on merchandise from Canada and Mexico in the event that they don’t cease what he referred to as the stream of medication and migrants throughout their borders. He mentioned he would impose a 25% tax on all merchandise getting into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as certainly one of his first government orders.
An individual conversant in the main points referred to as it a “constructive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not approved to talk publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity, mentioned subjects included commerce, border safety, fentanyl, protection, Ukraine, NATO, China and pipelines, in addition to the the Group of Seven assembly in Canada subsequent 12 months.
Although Trump as soon as referred to as Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest” throughout his first time period, ties between the 2 international locations have remained among the many closest on the planet. Trudeau is the primary chief from the G7 international locations to go to Trump for the reason that Nov. 5 election.
Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner have been Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s decide to steer the Interior Department, Mike Waltz, Trump’s option to be his nationwide safety adviser, and the three males’s wives.
Also on the dinner have been David McCormick, simply elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and his spouse, Dina Powell, a former deputy nationwide safety adviser underneath Trump, in addition to Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose obligations embrace border safety, and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of workers.
McCormick posted a photograph on X of the group seated at a spherical desk on the patio of Mar-a-Lago. At the desk behind the president-elect a boy might be seen mugging for the digital camera.
Trump’s transition didn’t reply to questions on what they’d mentioned or whether or not the dialog alleviated Trump’s considerations concerning the border.
A smiling Trudeau declined remark upon returning to his West Palm Beach lodge late Friday.
Trudeau mentioned earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs concern by speaking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned Thursday after talking with Trump that she is assured a tariff conflict with the United States shall be averted.
“We’re going to work collectively to satisfy a number of the considerations,” Trudeau informed reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “But finally it’s by way of a number of actual constructive conversations with President Trump that I’m going to have, that can hold us transferring ahead heading in the right direction for all Canadians.”
Trudeau mentioned Trump obtained elected as a result of he promised to carry down the price of groceries however now he is speaking about including 25% to the price of every kind of merchandise together with potatoes from Prince Edward Island.
“It is vital to grasp that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no query about it,” Trudeau mentioned.
“Our accountability is to level out that he wouldn’t simply be harming Canadians, who work so properly with the United States, however he would really be elevating costs for Americans residents as properly and hurting American trade and enterprise,” he added.
Those tariffs may basically blow up the North American commerce pact that Trump’s crew negotiated throughout his preliminary time period. Trudeau famous they have been capable of efficiently re-negotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for each international locations.
“We can work collectively as we did beforehand,” Trudeau mentioned.
Trump made the tariff risk Monday whereas railing in opposition to an inflow of unlawful migrants, regardless that the numbers on the Canadian border pale compared to the southern border.
The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests on the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests on the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024.
Trump additionally railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, regardless that seizures from the Canadian border are few compared to the Mexican border. U.S. customs brokers seized 43 kilos of fentanyl on the Canadian border final fiscal 12 months, in contrast with 21,100 kilos on the Mexican border.
Canadian officers say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair however say they’re able to make new investments in border safety.
Trudeau referred to as Trump after he made his social media posts on the border.
When Trump imposed greater tariffs throughout his first time period in workplace, different international locations responded with retaliatory tariffs of their very own. Canada, for example, introduced billions of latest duties in 2018 in opposition to the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian metal and aluminum.
Canada is already inspecting doable retaliatory tariffs on sure gadgets from the U.S. ought to Trump comply with by way of on his risk to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise, a senior official informed The Associated Press this week.
A authorities official mentioned Canada is getting ready for each eventuality and has began fascinated with what gadgets to focus on with tariffs in retaliation. The official confused no choice has been made. The particular person spoke on situation of anonymity as they weren’t approved to talk publicly.
Canada is the highest export vacation spot for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) value of products and companies cross the border every day.
About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electrical energy imports are from Canada.
Canada can be the most important overseas provider of metal, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 vital minerals and metals that the Pentagon is keen for and investing in for nationwide safety.
Canada is without doubt one of the most trade-dependent international locations on the planet, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
“Canada has cause to worry as a result of Trump is impulsive, usually influenced by the very last thing he sees on Fox News,” mentioned Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus on the University of Toronto. “He can leverage that by catering to what he thinks will sound and look good to the general public somewhat than to what occurs or will occur.”
