WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to fulfill with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago membership after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise.
An individual acquainted with the matter stated Trudeau may have dinner with Trump. The official was not licensed to talk publicly in regards to the matter and spoke on situation of anonymity.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on merchandise from Canada and Mexico if the nations don’t cease what he known as the stream of medication and migrants throughout southern and northern borders. He stated he would impose a 25% tax on all merchandise entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one in all his first government orders.
Though Trump as soon as known as Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest” throughout his first time period, ties between the 2 nations have remained among the many closest on this planet. Trudeau is the primary G-7 chief to go to Trump for the reason that U.S. election.
Canadian Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc accompanied Trudeau on the journey.
Trudeau stated earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs problem by speaking to Trump.
CHANDAN KHANNA through Getty Pictures
“We’re going to work collectively to fulfill a number of the issues,” Trudeau advised reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “However finally it’s via a number of actual constructive conversations with President Trump that I’m going to have, that may preserve us transferring ahead heading in the right direction for all Canadians.”
Trudeau stated Trump obtained elected as a result of he promised to deliver down the price of groceries however now he’s speaking about including 25% to the price of every kind of merchandise together with potatoes from Prince Edward Island.
“It is very important perceive that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no query about it,” Trudeau stated.
“Our duty is to level out that he wouldn’t simply be harming Canadians, who work so effectively with america, however he would really be elevating costs for People residents as effectively and hurting American business and enterprise,” he added.
These tariffs might primarily blow up the North American commerce pact that Trump’s group negotiated throughout his preliminary time period. Trudeau famous they have been in a position to efficiently re-negotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for each nations.
“We will work collectively as we did beforehand,” Trudeau stated.
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 yr, 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 known as Trump after he made his social media posts on the border.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Thursday she is assured that a tariff war with the United States will likely be averted. Trump posted on social media that he had spoken together with her and he or she had agreed to cease unauthorized migration throughout the border into america.
When Trump imposed greater tariffs throughout his first time period in workplace, different nations responded with retaliatory tariffs of their very own. Canada, as an illustration, introduced billions of new 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 examining possible retaliatory tariffs on sure gadgets from the U.S. ought to Trump observe via on his risk to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise, a senior official advised The Related Press this week.
A authorities official stated Canada is making ready for each eventuality and has began occupied with what gadgets to focus on with tariffs in retaliation. The official pressured no determination has been made. The individual spoke on situation of anonymity as they weren’t licensed to talk publicly.
Canada is the highest export vacation spot for 36 U.S. states. Almost $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) price of products and providers 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 biggest overseas provider of metal, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 important minerals and metals that the Pentagon is raring for and investing in for nationwide safety.
Canada is among the most trade-dependent nations on this planet, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
“Canada has purpose to concern as a result of Trump is impulsive, usually influenced by the very last thing he sees on Fox News,” stated Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus on the College of Toronto. “He can leverage that by catering to what he thinks will sound and look good to the general public quite than to what occurs or will occur.”
Gillies reported from Toronto.
