Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau departed Florida on Saturday after a three-hour meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, leaving without a firm commitment from Trump to abandon proposed tariffs on Canadian goods. The threatened 25% tariffs, which Trump plans to implement shortly after taking office in January, have sparked significant concern in Canada over the future of cross-border trade. Trudeau characterized the dinner meeting as "an excellent conversation" but provided no details. Trump described the talks as "productive" in a post on Truth Social, highlighting discussions on critical issues such as fentanyl, trade, and energy. He said Trudeau had agreed to work with the U.S. to combat the flow of fentanyl, which Trump blamed for devastating American families. "The U.S. will no longer sit idly by as our citizens become victims to the scourge of this drug epidemic," Trump stated, adding that Canada needed to do more to secure its borders. Trump's proposed tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports have raised alarms about the potential collapse of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal renegotiated during Trump's first term. Trudeau warned that such tariffs would harm both Canadian and American economies by increasing consumer prices and disrupting supply chains. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada, and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking," said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University. Canada is heavily trade-dependent, with 77% of its exports destined for the U.S. Each day, goods and services worth nearly CA$3.6 billion ($2.7 billion) cross the border, making Canada the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. The meeting also covered topics such as energy, the Arctic, defense, and NATO. Trump's team indicated that issues like pipelines and critical minerals, which are vital to U.S. national security, were also discussed. Canada supplies the U.S. with 60% of its crude oil imports, 85% of its electricity imports, and the majority of its foreign steel, aluminum, and uranium. Despite the strained trade talks, Trudeau's visit marked a diplomatic effort to manage relations with the incoming U.S. administration. Trump had previously referred to Trudeau as "weak" and "dishonest," but Trudeau became the first G7 leader to meet with Trump following his re-election. The outcome of the discussions leaves Canada in a precarious position, with no guarantees that the proposed tariffs will be dropped. Trudeau emphasized that retaliatory measures, like those Canada imposed during Trump's first term, remain an option if the tariffs are enacted. Meanwhile, Trump's foreign policy approach, particularly his vow to end Russia's war in Ukraine "in a single day," remains a point of uncertainty for U.S.-Canada relations. His appointment of retired General Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia has further added to speculation about the direction of U.S. foreign policy under his leadership. — Agencies
