Trudeau’s Response to Trump’s Tariff Threat: A Diplomatic Dialogue

November 26, 2024 TruthUSA

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had a positive conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump shortly after Trump’s threat to impose high tariffs on Canadian goods over border security concerns.

“It was a productive call,” Trudeau informed reporters on Nov. 26 as he made his way to the weekly cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill.

Trudeau discussed that during the call, they focused on presenting the facts and the strong connections between the two countries.

The conversation occurred after Trump’s announcement of a 25 percent tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico starting on Jan. 20, 2025.

Trump justified the tariff, stating that it would remain until issues such as drug trafficking and illegal immigration from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. were resolved.

During his campaign, Trump had promised to implement tariffs ranging from 10 to 20 percent on imported goods. While Mexico was considered for higher tariffs, Canada’s inclusion was not previously mentioned.

The Canadian government has been preparing for potential trade measures from the new U.S. administration for almost a year. Trudeau’s administration had retaliated when the previous Trump administration imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum in 2018.

Ottawa has been actively engaging with U.S. government officials and industry leaders to emphasize the importance of the trade relationship.

Trudeau emphasized the need for continuous effort to maintain a strong relationship with the U.S., referring to it as a “Team Canada” approach.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also called for a united approach in response to Trump’s tariff threat. Ford expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on workers in both countries and urged Trudeau to convene a meeting with all premiers urgently.

Trudeau confirmed that he contacted Ford promptly to arrange a meeting of first ministers to address the situation.

‘Shared Interests’

During the campaign, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce and trade, had mentioned using tariffs as part of trade negotiations.

When asked about the tariff threat, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and emphasized the importance of maintaining strong bilateral relations.

Champagne highlighted the need to communicate the potential impact on the U.S. economy to ensure a strategic relationship on security and supply chain resilience.

Regarding Trump’s criticism about the border situation with Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller noted the mutual interest in managing and controlling the flow of people across the border.

Miller also acknowledged the differences in the border situation with Mexico and emphasized the importance of addressing the concerns seriously without escalating them.

Tom Homan, tasked with overseeing borders and immigration policies, expressed concerns about the security vulnerabilities at the Canadian border and emphasized the need for increased vigilance.

Canadian authorities have been preparing for a potential influx of immigrants seeking refuge, with the RCMP developing contingency plans for different scenarios, from a minimal increase to a larger crisis.

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