Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Florida to meet with Donald Trump as Canada tries to fend off the president-elect’s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods.
Canadian media are reporting that Trudeau landed at Palm Beach International Airport on Friday evening and will visit Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
The two spoke by phone earlier Saturday after Trump announced that after taking office in January, He will slap tariffs across the board. On all products entering the United States from Mexico and Canada.
Neither the prime minister’s office nor Trump’s team have responded to requests for comment on the visit.
The trip was not included in Trudeau’s public itinerary for Friday. The two men are expected to have dinner.
It’s Canada’s latest move as it tries to avoid tariffs.
It remains unclear whether the incoming Trump administration will actually follow through with threatened tariffs, as analysts note that the president-elect has in the past used such threats as a negotiating ploy to achieve his goals. is known to use
Trump — who has threatened similar tariffs against Mexico — has indicated he will remain in place until the two countries work to secure their shared border with the United States.
After the phone call with Trump, Trudeau held an emergency meeting with leaders of Canada’s provinces and territories on Wednesday to discuss how the U.S. and Canada How to manage relationships.
Canada is one of the largest trading partners of the United States and sends about 75% of its total exports to the United States.
Trudeau is promising a united “Team Canada” approach to working with the U.S. to make the case against the tax.
Several leaders of Canadian provinces Trump’s plan has been criticized.suggesting that they would impose their own tariffs on America.
Mexican President Claudia Schönbaum also spoke with Trump on the phone this week.
According to US Border Patrol data on immigrant encounters, the number of crossings on the US-Canada border is significantly lower than on the southern border.
During fiscal year 2024, there were approximately 23,700 apprehensions at the northern land border, while more than 1.53 million apprehensions were seen at the southern border.
But Canadian officials have said in recent days that there is more work to be done to improve border security.