WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, USA. – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Florida to meet with US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago mansion, after Trump threatened to impose broad tariffs on Canadian goods.
A person familiar with the matter said Trudeau would be at dinner with Trump. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc accompanied Trudeau on the trip.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico unless those countries stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across the southern and northern borders of the United States. He said one of his first executive orders would be to impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from the two neighboring countries.
Although Trump once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest” in his first term, ties between the two countries have remained among the closest in the world.
Trudeau said earlier on Friday that he would resolve the issue by talking to Trump.
“We’re going to work together to address some of the concerns,” Trudeau told reporters on Canada’s Atlantic Prince Edward Island. “But ultimately, it’s through many conversations.” I will help President Trump continue to move in the right direction for all Canadians.”
Trudeau said that Trump was elected because he promised to reduce grocery costs, but now he is talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including Prince Edward Island potatoes.
“It is important to understand that when Donald Trump makes such statements, he intends to carry them out. There’s no doubt about it,” Trudeau said.
“It is our responsibility to point out that not only would it hurt Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but that it would actually raise prices for American citizens and hurt American business and industries,” he said.
In fact, these targets could compromise the North American trade agreement that Trump’s team made during his first term. Trudeau noted that they were able to successfully renegotiate the agreement, which he believes is beneficial to both countries.
“We can work together like we did before,” Trudeau said.
Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Monday while complaining about an increase in illegal immigration, although the numbers at the Canadian border pale in comparison to those at the southern border.
The United States 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 also complained about fentanyl coming from Mexico and Canada, although there are not many seizures of that narcotic on the Canadian border compared to those on the Mexican border. US customs agents seized 19 kilograms (43 pounds) of fentanyl at the Canadian border in the last fiscal year, compared to 9,525 kilograms (21,100 pounds) at the Mexican border.
Canadian officials believe it is unfair to lump Canada with Mexico, but say they are ready to make new investments in border security.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that she is confident that a tariff war with Washington will be avoided. Trump posted on social media that he had spoken with her and that Sheinbaum had agreed to stop illegal immigration into the United States.
When Trump imposed higher tariffs in his first term, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for example, announced billions in new tariffs in 2018 against the United States in response to new tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Canada is already weighing possible retaliatory tariffs on some US goods if Trump makes good on his threat to impose broad tariffs on Canadian goods, a senior official told The Associated Press this week. this.
A government official indicated that Canada is preparing for any eventuality and has begun to think about which products they can impose retaliatory tariffs on. The official – who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly – confirmed that no decision had been made.
Canada is the main export destination for 36 states of the United States. Almost 3.6 billion Canadian dollars (2.7 billion US dollars) of goods and services cross the border every day.
About 60% of US crude oil imports come from Canada, as do 85% of US electricity imports.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the United States, and has 34 vital minerals and metals that the Pentagon wants and invests in for national security.
Canada is one of the most trade dependent countries in the world. 77% of its exports go to the United States.
“Canada has reason to be afraid because Trump is critical, often influenced by the latest thing he sees on Fox News,” said Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. “He can take advantage of that by catering to what he thinks the audience will think is good and good for them, rather than what is happening or will happen.”
2024-11-30 03:54:00
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## World Today News Exclusive: Interview wiht Professor Amanda Nguyen on US-Canada Trade Tensions
**By Sarah Jones, senior Editor, WorldTodayNews.com**
The recent announcement of potential tariffs on Canadian goods by US President Donald Trump has sent ripples through the North American economy. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Florida for an urgent meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, emphasizing the need for dialogue to resolve the dispute.
To provide expert analysis on this developing situation, World Today News spoke with Professor Amanda Nguyen, a leading expert on US-Canada trade relations at the University of Toronto.
**World Today News:** Professor Nguyen, thank you for joining us. What are yoru thoughts on president Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods?
**Professor Nguyen:** This is a deeply concerning advancement. Such a tariff would be a significant disruption to the deeply integrated North American economy. The US and Canada have the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, with millions of jobs on both sides dependent on this trade. A 25% tariff would be incredibly damaging to both economies, raising prices for consumers, hurting businesses, and perhaps leading to job losses.
**World Today News:** Prime Minister Trudeau has stated that he intends to resolve this issue through dialogue. How effective do you think this approach will be?
**Professor Nguyen:** Dialogue is absolutely crucial. Both leaders need to clearly communicate their concerns and interests. Prime Minister Trudeau is right to emphasize the potential harm these tariffs would inflict on both American and Canadian citizens. Though, President Trump has a history of taking a hardline stance on trade. It remains to be seen whether he is truly open to compromise.
**World Today News:** President Trump has cited the flow of drugs and migrants as reasons for the proposed tariffs. How legitimate are these concerns?
**Professor Nguyen:** While border security is a legitimate concern, using tariffs as a tool to address complex issues like drug trafficking and migration is highly problematic. These are multifaceted issues requiring complete solutions, not punitive trade measures.
**World Today News:** How might these tariffs impact the recently renegotiated USMCA trade agreement?
**professor Nguyen:** This is a major threat to the USMCA. The agreement, which replaced NAFTA, was carefully crafted to modernize trade rules and ensure stability. Imposing unilateral tariffs would undermine the very foundation of this agreement and raise serious questions about the US’s commitment to its trading partners.
**World Today News:** What are the potential long-term implications of this trade dispute?
**Professor Nguyen:** A prolonged trade war between the US and Canada would have far-reaching consequences.it could led to increased protectionism, a decline in investment, and a weakening of the global trading system. It is essential for both sides to de-escalate the situation and find a mutually acceptable solution.
**World Today News:** Professor Nguyen, thank you for sharing your insights.
This interview highlights the complex and potentially damaging situation developing between the US and Canada. As the situation unfolds, World Today News will continue to provide comprehensive coverage and expert analysis.