Meeting Comes as Trump Threatens Hefty Tariffs on Canadian Imports
West Palm Beach, Florida, 30 November 2024
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly traveled to Florida for a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, according to media reports. While Mr. Trudeau’s official itinerary does not include a Florida visit, multiple sources, including The Globe and Mail and CNN, suggest that the two leaders were set to meet privately.
Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is accompanying Mr. Trudeau, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). CNN also claimed that Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Trump planned to have dinner on Friday evening at the resort, though no official statements were released from either side.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened trade tensions. On November 25, Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, demanding stricter measures against the trafficking of drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal border crossings. The proposed tariffs could have far-reaching economic consequences for Canada, Mexico, and China, raising inflation, disrupting trade, and impacting job markets.
Canada, the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, relies heavily on the US for its crude exports, sending approximately four million barrels per day across the border. Sources familiar with Trump’s plan revealed that crude oil would not be exempt from the proposed trade penalties, raising concerns about significant economic repercussions for Canada’s oil and gas sector.
Domestically, the threat of tariffs has added pressure on Mr. Trudeau’s government, which is already grappling with a slowing economy and rising costs of living. Public opinion polls indicate that the opposition Conservative Party could defeat Mr. Trudeau’s Liberals in the next federal election, scheduled no later than October 2025.
In response to Trump’s tariff threats, Mr. Trudeau convened a meeting with the premiers of Canada’s 10 provinces earlier this week to strategize on US relations and maintain a united stance. He has pledged to resist any trade measures that could harm Canada’s economy.
Neither Mr. Trudeau’s office nor representatives for Mr. Trump have commented on the reported Florida meeting, leaving observers to speculate on the potential outcomes of the leaders’ discussions.