Canadian Foreign Minister Expresses Concern Over Trump’s Tariff Policies Causing Discomfort in Washington

December 13, 2024 TruthUSA

According to Canada’s foreign minister, there is a sense of concern in the U.S. capital regarding how the incoming administration will handle tariffs.

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned that she has engaged in numerous discussions with both Republican and Democratic senators, as well as officials in the Trump administration, as Canada works to avoid the threat of tariffs.

“From my meetings in Washington, it seems that there is some apprehension about the tariff strategy, given that Canada is ultimately a strong ally—the best friend of Americans,” Joly stated on Dec. 13 at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

President-elect Donald Trump has warned of imposing a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico if they do not intensify their efforts to combat illegal migration and drug trafficking on their borders.

Ottawa has been developing a plan to enhance its border security through new investments, including advancements in aerial surveillance technologies. While the specifics of the plan have not been disclosed, the financial details will be revealed in the Fall Economic Statement set for Dec. 16.

Joly mentioned that her role has been to share the unrevealed plan with the U.S. and assured that the plan is prepared with a substantial budget.

The minister expressed confidence that the communication from her government to the incoming administration is being well-received, but acknowledged that Trump’s decisions are unpredictable.

Recently, Trump has made jests about Canada potentially becoming the “51st” U.S. state and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau serving as the “governor,” along with claims that the U.S. has been subsidizing Canada. These remarks were reportedly made during Trudeau’s visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Nov. 29.

Joly shared that she has also made a lighthearted joke of her own when engaging with U.S. officials.

“I’ve been joking, especially with my Republican senator colleagues, that Fort Lauderdale could easily become Canada’s 11th province,” she remarked. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is known for its significant Canadian snowbird population, including many Quebec residents.

In addition to formulating a border strategy, Canadian authorities are exploring ways to retaliate against potential tariffs, as their implementation would have widespread repercussions on the Canadian economy.

During the previous Trump administration, the U.S. had imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, prompting countermeasures from Ottawa until the tariffs were lifted nearly a year later.

This time, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland revealed discussions on targeting critical minerals and metals exports to the U.S. on Dec. 11. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also mentioned the possibility of reducing energy exports to the U.S. as a last resort.

Joly refrained from directly addressing Ford’s statements but assured that Canada has numerous strategies to retaliate.

“We will fight for every job in Quebec and Canada,” she emphasized.

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