Following President-elect Trump’s threat of imposing significant tariffs on Canadian goods, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Florida on Friday for a dinner meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump’s tariff threat, targeting both Canada and Mexico, is contingent on their efforts to curb the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He intends to implement a 25% tax on all goods entering the U.S. from these countries as one of his initial executive actions.
A source familiar with the event described the three-hour dinner as “positive and wide-ranging.” This individual, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to authorization restrictions, stated that discussions encompassed trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, pipelines, and the upcoming Group of Seven summit in Canada.
Despite past criticisms from Trump, who previously labeled Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” the two nations maintain a strong bilateral relationship. Trudeau’s visit marks the first by a G7 leader since the November 5th election.
In attendance were Trump’s commerce secretary nominee, Howard Lutnick; North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s Interior Department pick; Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor appointee; and their respective spouses.
Also present were newly elected U.S. Senator David McCormick and his wife, Dina Powell (a former Trump deputy national security advisor); Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc (whose portfolio includes border security); and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff.
McCormick shared a photograph on X showing the attendees seated at a round table on the Mar-a-Lago patio, with a child visible in the background.
Trump’s transition team did not respond to inquiries regarding the dinner’s discussions or whether Trump’s border concerns were alleviated.
A smiling Trudeau offered no comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday.
Earlier Friday, Trudeau expressed confidence in resolving the tariff issue through dialogue with Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum similarly expressed optimism about averting a tariff conflict following her conversation with Trump.
“We’re going to work together to address some concerns,” Trudeau told reporters in Prince Edward Island. “But ultimately, it’s through constructive conversations with President Trump that we’ll maintain progress for all Canadians.”
Trudeau noted that Trump’s election platform included lowering grocery costs, yet he’s now proposing a 25% increase on various products, including Prince Edward Island potatoes.
“It’s crucial to understand that when Donald Trump makes such statements, he intends to act on them. There’s no doubt about that,” Trudeau stated.
“Our responsibility is to highlight the harm this would cause not just to Canadians, who collaborate closely with the United States, but also to American citizens through increased prices and damage to American industry and business,” he added.
These tariffs could potentially jeopardize the North American trade agreement renegotiated during Trump’s first term. Trudeau emphasized their successful renegotiation as mutually beneficial.
“We can work together as we did before,” Trudeau said.
Trump issued the tariff threat on Monday, citing an influx of illegal migrants, despite significantly lower numbers at the Canadian border compared to the southern border.
U.S. Border Patrol recorded 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone, contrasted with 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024.
Trump also criticized fentanyl trafficking from Mexico and Canada, despite considerably fewer seizures at the Canadian border. U.S. customs seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared to 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.
Canadian officials deem the comparison with Mexico unfair but are prepared to invest further in border security.
Trudeau contacted Trump after his social media posts on the border.
During his first term, Trump’s imposition of higher tariffs prompted retaliatory measures from other nations. Canada, for example, introduced billions of dollars in new duties against the U.S. in 2018 in response to tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Canada is currently assessing potential retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods should Trump proceed with his tariff threat, a senior official told The Associated Press this week.
A government official indicated that Canada is preparing for all possibilities and is considering potential tariff targets. However, they stressed that no decisions have been finalized. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.
Canada is the leading export destination for 36 U.S. states. Approximately $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) in goods and services cross the border daily.
Around 60% of U.S. crude oil imports originate from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports come from Canada.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the U.S. and provides 34 critical minerals and metals prioritized by the Pentagon for national security purposes.
Canada is highly reliant on trade, with 77% of its exports destined for the U.S.
“Canada has reason for concern because Trump is impulsive, often swayed by recent information on Fox News,” commented Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. “He can exploit this by focusing on what seems publicly appealing rather than on practical consequences.”