Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Flies To Florida To Meet With Trump

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — 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 known as the move of medication and migrants throughout the borders. He mentioned he would impose a 25% tax on all merchandise getting into 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 international locations have remained among the many closest on the earth. Trudeau is the primary chief from the Group of Seven international locations to go to Trump because the Nov. 4 election.

Becoming a member of Trump and Trudeau at dinner had been Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s decide to steer the Inside Division, Mike Waltz, Trump’s option to be his nationwide safety adviser, and the three males’s wives, based on an individual accustomed to the dinner plans who was not licensed to talk publicly and did so on situation of anonymity.

Additionally on the dinner, the individual mentioned, had 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 Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of employees.

A smiling Trudeau declined remark upon returning to his West Palm Seashore resort late Friday.

Trudeau mentioned earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs problem by speaking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned Thursday after talking with Trump that she is assured a tariff struggle with america might be averted.

“We’re going to work collectively to satisfy a few of the issues,” Trudeau instructed reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “However in the end it’s via numerous actual constructive conversations with President Trump that I’m going to have, that can preserve us shifting ahead heading in the right direction for all Canadians.”

Trudeau mentioned Trump acquired elected as a result of he promised to convey down the price of groceries however now he’s speaking about including 25% to the price of all types of merchandise together with potatoes from Prince Edward Island.

“You will need to perceive that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no query about it,” Trudeau mentioned.

“Our duty is to level out that he wouldn’t simply be harming Canadians, who work so nicely with america, however he would truly be elevating costs for Individuals residents as nicely and hurting American trade and enterprise,” he added.

These tariffs may primarily blow up the North American commerce pact that Trump’s group negotiated throughout his preliminary time period. Trudeau famous they had been in a position to efficiently re-negotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for each international locations.

“We are able to work collectively as we did beforehand,” Trudeau mentioned.

Trump made the tariff menace Monday whereas railing in opposition to an inflow of unlawful migrants, although 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, although 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.

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 recent 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 potential retaliatory tariffs on sure gadgets from the U.S. ought to Trump observe via on his menace to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise, a senior official instructed The Related Press this week.

A authorities official mentioned Canada is getting ready for each eventuality and has began serious about what gadgets to focus on with tariffs in retaliation. The official harassed 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. Practically $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 most important international provider of metal, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 important 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 earth, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.

“Canada has cause to concern as a result of Trump is impulsive, usually influenced by the very last thing he sees on Fox Information,” mentioned 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 slightly than to what occurs or will occur.”

Gillies reported from Toronto.