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| Image: Reuters |
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an unannounced visit to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to meet with the U.S. President-elect amid Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico to enhance control over drugs and migrants crossing the border.
Trudeau pledged unity against this threat and convened a meeting with the premiers of Canada’s provinces to discuss relations with the United States. Trump’s move has been widely criticized by nations and industries, warning it could harm the economy, increase inflation, and disrupt job markets. If implemented, Canada’s economy, already under pressure from high living costs and slowed growth, could suffer further, weakening Trudeau’s position ahead of the 2025 election.
Canada is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, but Trump’s tariff plans might not exempt crude oil, posing a direct threat to bilateral trade. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc accompanied Trudeau on this trip.