Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, describing their discussion as “excellent.” The meeting, which took place over dinner on Friday, comes amid heightened tensions following Trump’s announcement of proposed tariffs targeting Canada, Mexico, and China.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday before returning to Canada, Trudeau shared his optimism about the exchange. However, Trump’s aggressive trade stance remains a significant concern for Canada and other affected countries. Earlier in the week, Trump had announced a 25% import tariff on Canada and Mexico, citing issues like illicit drug flows and undocumented migration into the United States.
A photo from the dinner shows Trudeau and Trump seated together, joined by a group of high-profile individuals, including Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, and Mike Waltz, his pick for national security advisor.
Trump’s bold tariff declarations have already sparked mixed reactions. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had a phone conversation with Trump on Wednesday, though their accounts of the discussion varied. While Trump claimed Mexico agreed to stricter migration control measures, Sheinbaum clarified that they spoke about existing U.S.-supported migration policies and minimized the tariff threat’s potential for escalating into a trade war.
The proposed tariffs carry significant implications for Canada, whose economy heavily relies on trade with the United States. Last year alone, over 75% of Canada’s exports, amounting to nearly $423 billion, went to the U.S., supporting millions of Canadian jobs.
President Joe Biden, still in office for a few more months, criticized the proposed tariffs, calling them counterproductive and harmful to diplomatic relationships with Canada and Mexico. Trudeau, however, dismissed any notion that Trump’s threats were mere posturing. “When Donald Trump makes statements like that, he means to act on them,” Trudeau stated during a prior engagement in Prince Edward Island.
Canada is reportedly considering its own tariff measures in response, signaling the potential for a brewing trade dispute between the neighboring nations. While the talks with Trump offered a chance to address some concerns, the looming policy changes are causing unease on both sides of the border.
