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

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to satisfy with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago membership after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise.

An individual accustomed to the matter stated Trudeau may have dinner with Trump. The official was not approved to talk publicly concerning the matter and spoke on situation of anonymity.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc accompanied Trudeau on the journey.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on merchandise from Canada and Mexico if the international locations don’t cease what he known as the circulate of medication and migrants throughout southern and northern borders. He stated he would impose a 25% tax on all merchandise coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as considered one of his first govt orders.

Although 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 planet.

Trudeau stated earlier Friday that he would resolve the problem by speaking To Trump.

“We’re going to work together to meet some of the concerns,” Trudeau informed reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “But ultimately it is through lots of real constructive conversations with President Trump that I am going to have, that will keep us moving forward on the right track for all Canadians.”

Trudeau stated Trump received 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 every kind of merchandise together with potatoes from Prince Edward Island.

“It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau stated.

“Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” 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 in a position to efficiently re-negotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for each international locations.

“We can work together as we did previously,” Trudeau stated.

Trump made the tariff menace Monday whereas railing towards an inflow of unlawful migrants, despite the fact 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, despite the fact 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.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Thursday she is assured {that a} tariff warfare with the United States can be averted. Trump posted on social media that he had spoken along with her and he or she had agreed to cease unauthorized migration throughout the border into the United States.

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 towards 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 observe via on his menace to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian merchandise, a senior official informed The Associated Press this week.

A authorities official stated Canada is making ready for each eventuality and has began fascinated by what gadgets to focus on with tariffs in retaliation. The official pressured 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 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 also be the most important overseas provider of metal, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 crucial minerals and metals that the Pentagon is raring for and investing in for nationwide safety.

Canada is likely one of the most trade-dependent international locations on the planet, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.

“Canada has reason to fear because Trump is impulsive, often influenced by the last thing he sees on Fox News,” stated 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 public rather than to what happens or will happen.”

Gillies reported from Toronto.