Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Florida this week to meet with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, following Trump’s threat to impose hefty tariffs on Canadian goods. The meeting marks Trudeau as the first G-7 leader to visit Trump since the U.S. presidential election, underscoring the significance of their discussions.
A source familiar with the visit, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, confirmed that Trudeau would share a dinner meeting with Trump. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc accompanied Trudeau, further emphasizing the high-stakes nature of the encounter.
The meeting comes just days after Trump declared plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing their alleged failure to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking into the United States. These threats have raised concerns on both sides of the border, with Trudeau addressing the issue directly in comments made earlier in the day.
“We’re going to work together to meet some of the concerns,” Trudeau said during remarks in Prince Edward Island, Canada. “Ultimately, it is through constructive conversations with President Trump that I will ensure we stay on the right track for all Canadians.”
Trudeau highlighted the potential economic impact of such tariffs, particularly on Canadian exports like potatoes from Prince Edward Island, while questioning Trump’s contradictory promises. “Donald Trump got elected by vowing to bring down the cost of groceries, but now he’s talking about adding 25% to the cost of essential products,” Trudeau remarked. “When he makes statements like that, he plans to carry them out—there’s no question about it.”
Trump, for his part, reiterated his intentions earlier this week, stating that his first executive orders would include imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He emphasized the urgency of addressing immigration and drug trafficking, referencing a caravan of migrants traveling through Mexico to the U.S. border.
Canadian officials responded by underscoring the importance of U.S.-Canada economic ties. In a joint statement, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc emphasized Canada’s role as the top buyer of U.S. goods and a key supplier of energy and critical minerals vital to American industries.
Should Trump proceed with his tariff threat, Canada is prepared to implement retaliatory measures, according to a senior Canadian official. Similar actions were taken in 2018 when Canada imposed billions in duties on U.S. goods following American tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
This high-profile meeting will likely set the tone for U.S.-Canada relations under the incoming administration, as both leaders navigate the challenges of immigration, trade, and national security.