Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Florida to meet President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The meeting follows Trump’s threat to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian products.
An anonymous source confirmed Trudeau would have dinner with Trump. The source, lacking authorization to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc joined Trudeau on the trip. This marked Trudeau as the first G-7 leader to meet Trump since his election.
The visit came after Trump threatened 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He blamed both nations for failing to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the U.S.
Trudeau addressed the issue earlier, pledging to resolve it through dialogue. “We’re going to work together to meet some of the concerns,” he said from Prince Edward Island. He emphasized constructive conversations with Trump as the way forward.
Trudeau criticized the potential tariffs, noting their impact on Canadians. He reminded reporters Trump campaigned on lowering grocery costs but now risks increasing prices. “When he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out,” Trudeau said.
Trump, earlier in the week, doubled down on his threats. He promised tariffs on his first day in office to combat a perceived “Open Border” crisis. His statements targeted both Canada and Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo discussed migration issues with Trump over the phone. She warned of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods if Trump proceeded with his plan.
Canada emphasized its commitment to border security amid the tariff threats. Officials highlighted the nation’s economic importance to the U.S., citing energy and trade statistics.
A senior Canadian official warned of potential retaliatory tariffs. In 2018, Canada imposed billions in duties in response to Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum.
If Trump follows through, another round of trade tensions could erupt, impacting both nations.