Prime Minister of Canada justin trudeau Flew to Florida to meet President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he had a “very productive meeting.” It came in the wake of Trump Threat to impose tariffs On goods coming from Canada.
Trudeau dined with Trump at Mar-a-Largo on Friday night, according to senior sources who spoke to CBC News, on the condition that they not be named due to the sensitivity of the trip. Sources said the meeting was pressured by Canadian broadcasters, Canadian officials Said,
Trudeau's plane landed at Palm Beach International Airport around 5:30 pm local time. A smiling Trudeau declined to comment as he returned to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday from Mar-a-Lago. The Trump transition team had no comment on the meeting when reached by CBS News.
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At the dinner Trump and Trudeau were joined by Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump's choice to lead the Interior Department, Mike Waltz, Trump's choice to be his national security adviser, and the wives of the three men. Were involved. The person familiar with the dinner plans was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The dinner also included Republican Sen. David McCormick of Pennsylvania and his wife, Dina Powell, a former deputy national security adviser under Trump, as well as Trudeau's chief of staff, Katie Telford, the person told the AP.
On Saturday, as he was leaving a hotel in West Palm, Trudeau told reporters that “it was an excellent conversation” with Trump the previous night. He did not elaborate and did not comment on questions about whether tariffs were part of the negotiations or about his relationship with the president-elect.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had a “very productive meeting” with Trudeau, during which they discussed “a number of important topics that both countries will need to work together to address.” As for issues requiring such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and “the drug crisis that has taken many lives as a result of illegal immigration,” fair trade deals “that do not put American workers at risk” and working with his allies to protect American workers. Cited trade losses. Answer.
“I have made it clear that the United States will no longer sit idly by as our citizens become victims of this drug epidemic crisis caused primarily by drug cartels and fentanyl coming from China. Far too much death and hardship! ” Trump said. “Prime Minister Trudeau has committed to working with us to end this terrible devastation to American families. We also talked about many other important topics like energy, trade and the Arctic. All important issues that I will address in my maiden speech.” I will address.” “In the office several days ago, and even before that.”
The meeting came after Trudeau warned earlier Friday that if Trump acts Threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian productsThat would raise prices for Americans and hurt American businesses.
trump He has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if those countries do not stop the flow of drugs and migrants across the southern and northern borders. He said that he will impose 25 percent tax on all products entry into usa from canada and Mexico As one of his first executive orders.
“It's important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like this, he plans to enforce them. There's no question about that,” Trudeau told reporters in Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada, on Friday. “
“We have a responsibility to show that not only will he hurt Canadians, who do a great job with the United States, but he will actually raise prices for American citizens and hurt American industry and business,” she said. “
Trudeau said Trump was elected because he promised to lower the price of groceries, but now he's talking about adding 25% to the cost of all types of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island.
Those tariffs could essentially destroy the North American trade agreement that Trump's team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau said they were able to successfully renegotiate the agreement, which he called a “win-win” for both countries.
“We can work together like we did before,” Trudeau said.
Although Trump once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest” during his first term, relations between the two countries remain among the closest in the world. Trudeau is the first leader of the Group of Seven countries to meet Trump after the November 4 election.
Trump aide Corey Lewandowski, speaking on Fox News on Friday night, said he was “certain” that Trudeau “will come and have a conversation with the president and say, 'Sir, what can we do to keep this border open, Mal. What can we do to keep the flow going? We know we have problems, we're here to fix it.
Trump threatened tariffs on Monday while speaking out against the influx of illegal immigrants, even though the numbers at the Canadian border are lower than at the southern border.
The US Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone – and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024.
Trump also criticized fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border are lower than those from the Mexican border. U.S. Customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.
Canadian officials say it is unfair to integrate Canada with Mexico but they are ready to make new investments in border security.
“We're going to work together to address some of the concerns,” Trudeau said. “But ultimately it's through a lot of really constructive conversations with President Trump that I'm going to have, that will keep us moving forward on the right path for all Canadians.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that she is confident that Tariff war with the United States Will be averted. Trump posted on social media that he had spoken to her and that she agreed to stop unauthorized cross-border migration into the United States.
When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. For example, Canada announced billions in new tariffs against the US in 2018 in response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminium.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states. About $2.7 billion worth of goods and services cross the border every day.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the US and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is keen on and investing in for national security.