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 has threatened to impose tariffs on merchandise from Canada and Mexico if they don’t cease what he referred to as the stream of medication and migrants throughout their borders. He mentioned he’ll impose a 25% tax on all merchandise getting into the United States from Canada and Mexico as one among his first govt orders.
One individual acquainted with the small print referred to as it a “wide-ranging optimistic 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 the subjects included commerce, border safety, fentanyl, protection, Ukraine, NATO, China and pipelines, in addition to the assembly of the Group of Seven. 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 earth. Trudeau is the primary chief of the G7 international locations to go to Trump because the November 5 elections.
Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner had been Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for secretary of commerce, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, chosen by Trump to steer the Department of the Interior, Mike Waltz, chosen by Trump as his advisor for nationwide safety, and the wives of the three males.
Also on the dinner had been David McCormick, newly elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and his spouse, Dina Powell, former deputy nationwide safety adviser below Trump, in addition to Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, whose duties embrace safety of Borders, and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of workers.
McCormick posted a photograph on X of the group sitting at a spherical desk on the Mar-a-Lago patio. At the desk behind the president-elect we see a boy attacking the digital camera.
The Trump transition didn’t reply to questions on what that they had mentioned or whether or not the dialog had eased Trump’s issues in regards to the border.
A smiling Trudeau declined to remark upon returning to his West Palm Beach resort Friday night.
Trudeau mentioned final Friday he would resolve the tariff concern by speaking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned Thursday after talking with Trump that she was assured a tariff conflict with the United States could be averted.
“We will work collectively to handle a few of the issues,” Trudeau instructed reporters in Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada. “But finally it is going to be by many constructive conversations that I’ve with President Trump that can enable us to maneuver ahead on the correct path for all Canadians.”
Trudeau mentioned Trump was elected as a result of he promised to decrease the price of groceries, however now he is speaking about including 25% to the price of all varieties of produce, together with Prince Edward Island potatoes.
“It’s essential to grasp that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like this, intends to make them occur. There’s little doubt about it,” Trudeau mentioned.
“Our duty is to level out that it might not solely damage Canadians, who work so nicely with the United States, however it might truly increase costs for American residents and damage American trade and companies,” he added.
Such tariffs may basically derail the North American commerce pact that Trump’s workforce negotiated throughout his preliminary time period. Trudeau careworn that they had been capable of efficiently renegotiate the settlement, which he calls a “win win” for each international locations.
“We can work collectively as we now have finished earlier than,” Trudeau mentioned.
Trump made the tariff risk Monday by railing in opposition to the inflow of unlawful migrants, even because the numbers on the Canadian border pale compared to the southern border.
The US Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests on the Mexican border in October alone – and 23,721 arrests on the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024.
Trump additionally railed in opposition to fentanyl coming from Mexico and Canada, although seizures from the Canadian border are few in comparison with the Mexican one. U.S. Customs brokers seized 43 kilos of fentanyl on the Canadian border final fiscal 12 months, in comparison with 21,100 kilos on the Mexican border.
Canadian officers say lumping Canada and Mexico collectively is unfair, however say they’re able to make new investments in border safety.
Trudeau referred to as out Trump after he made his social media posts in regards to the border.
When Trump imposed greater tariffs throughout his first time period, different international locations responded with retaliatory tariffs. Canada, for instance, introduced billions in new tariffs in 2018 in opposition to the United States in an “eye for a watch” response to new taxes on Canadian metal and aluminum.
Canada is already potential retaliatory tariffs on some gadgets from the United States ought to Trump observe by on his risk to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise, a senior official instructed The Associated Press this week.
A authorities official mentioned Canada is getting ready for each eventuality and has began fascinated by which gadgets to hit with tariffs in retaliation. The official careworn that no determination has been made. The individual spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not approved to talk publicly.
Canada is the highest export vacation spot for 36 US states. Every day, items and companies price almost C$3.6 billion ($2.7 billion) cross the border.
About 60% of US crude oil imports come from Canada, and 85% of US electrical energy imports come from Canada.
Canada can be the most important international provider of metal, aluminum and uranium to the United States and has 34 crucial minerals and metals that the Pentagon covets and invests in for nationwide safety.
Canada is likely one of the most trade-dependent international locations on the earth, and 77% of Canadian exports go to the United States
“Canada has motive to worry as a result of Trump is impulsive, usually influenced by the very last thing he sees on Fox News,” mentioned Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus on the University of Toronto. “He can exploit this by catering to what he thinks will sound and look good to the viewers moderately than what occurs or will occur.”
Gillies reported from Toronto.
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