Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is meeting with top Canadian officials this afternoon to discuss relations with the US and Canada in preparation for the return of president-elect Donald Trump to the White House.
It is the second time Trudeau has met with senior leaders since Trump threatened to hit Canada with steep tariffs earlier this month – and the first meeting since the prime minister's dinner with Trump in Mar-a -Lago.
The president-elect, on his first day back in office, said he would impose 25 percent tariffs on goods coming in from Canada and Mexico unless the two countries stop what he called ” “invasion” of drugs, “especially Fentanyl, and everything. Illegal Aliens” into the US
Trump recently mocked Trudeau on social media, calling him the “governor” of the “great state” of Canada. He has said that if the US is going to have large trade deficits with Canada, it might as well go into the United States. Trump also apparently teased Trudeau about Canada becoming the 51st state if the country can't handle the taxes he promised.
Trudeau has said Canada is preparing some sort of response if Trump goes ahead with a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods destined for the U.S. Canada has retaliated against some goods the US last time Trump raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
While the flow of migrants and illegal drugs across the northern border a a fraction of what goes over MexicoTrump is still worried about what's coming from Canada – just as Canadian officials are worried about drugs and guns flowing north.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who was among a small group of Canadians who dined with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week, answers questions from reporters about Trump say Canada could be the 51st state. LeBlanc says it wasn't a real idea at all.
The Trudeau government is considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars to protect the Canada-US border — possibly even more than $1 billion — in an effort to ease Trump's concerns, sources have told CBC News and Radio-Canada.
If Trump follows through, it could have a major impact on the Canadian economy.
The US imported $614.3 billion worth of Canadian goods in 2022, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. More recent figures from the US Census Bureau show that the US imported about $435 billion in Canadian goods between January and September of this year.
A senior federal source has told CBC News that Ottawa is contacting American businesses to raise the case against taxes for US politicians.
Major players take their case to the Americans
A number of senior officials have been involved in a charm offensive, meeting with governors and other politicians south of the border.
At least two of Canada's top players have appeared on US network television to make their case to an American audience.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford appeared on CNBC's Power Lunch Wednesday afternoon and said Trump's proposed targets would harm Canadians and Americans.
“It hurts the American people. It hurts the Canadian people. Ford said he would put pressure on Trudeau to make sure Trump's concerns about the border are addressed.
Ford has also made several appearances on Fox News in recent weeks and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also been interviewed by Fox.
The Ford government also launched a multi-million American advertising campaign building economic and cultural ties between the province and the US
