Trudeau will meet with the prime minister as Trump threatens heavy tariffs on Canadian goods
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has agreed to meet with his provincial and territorial counterparts after Donald Trump threatened to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods.
The US president-elect said Monday night on his first day back in the White House, he will impose a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Trudeau said he plans to meet with Canadian prime ministers “this week” to discuss how to deal with Canada's relationship with the US.
“This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of work, and that's what we're going to do,” Trudeau said before entering a meeting with his cabinet.
“One of the most important things is that we all work together on this. The Team Canada approach is the one that works.”
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office later said the virtual meeting would be held on Wednesday evening.
The premiers wrote to Trudeau on Monday, ahead of the latest tax threat, asking for an emergency meeting to discuss Ottawa's handling of the incoming administration.
“As we look to welcome the incoming US administration, it is important that we act now to work together and seize this opportunity to grow and strengthen our historic relationship with the US,” the prime minister's letter reads.
Trump said the 25 percent tariff is because of his concerns about the Canada-Mexico border.
“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, especially Fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social.
“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily resolve this long-simmering problem. So we want them to exercise this power, and until they do, it's time for them to pay a very heavy price!”
Trudeau spoke with Trump on the phone Monday evening after the president-elect made his tax pledge. The prime minister said on Tuesday morning that the two “had a good phone call.”
“Obviously we talked about … how strong and effective communication between our two countries goes back and forth. We talked about some of the challenges that we can work on together,” Trudeau told reporters.
The two leaders spoke for about 10 minutes on Monday evening and mainly discussed trade and border security, according to a government source familiar with the matter by phone. Trudeau pointed out that the number of immigrants from Canada to the US is a small fraction of those who cross from Mexico, the source said.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller told reporters Tuesday morning that the annual influx of immigrants to the US from Canada is equivalent to “a significant weekend at the Mexican border.”
“At the same time … it's serious and we have a duty not to make our problems the problems of the American people and they have a duty not to make their problems ours,” he said.
Miller said the administration is considering “several steps” to address Trump's border concerns, but did not elaborate.
Poilievre says he will take revenge 'if necessary'
Conservative leader Pierre Poileivre said Trump issued a “baseless threat.” He also accused Trudeau and his government of being caught off guard by this incident.
“We need a plan, a plan to put Canada first,” he told reporters in Ottawa.
Poilievre said the government needs to end the carbon tax and stop planned emissions to ensure the economy can withstand the tax.
“We have been dreaming for the past nine years and we are looking at where it has taken us,” he said.
“[What] What we really need to do is stand up for our economy by taxing, freeing up free enterprise, making major improvements in our energy production and resources and standing up for our country against unfair taxation.”
When asked if he would take revenge on Trump's money if he were prime minister, Poilievre said he would “do it if necessary.”
Trudeau also spoke with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault on Monday evening.
Ford said Tuesday morning that he was “shocked” by Trump's announcement and that it was “insulting” for him to compare Canada to Mexico.
“We are very close to the American people,” Ford told reporters during a press conference.
“You ask any American … if they feel Canada is dangerous. The answer is no. Can we do a better job? Do we need to do a better job at our borders? One thousand one percent.”
Ford said he wants to hear from Trudeau to make sure he has “a strong plan to protect and secure our borders and make sure we deal with the threat from the US”.
Ford said he expects Canada to retaliate at its expense if Trump follows through on his promise.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday Ottawa needs to focus on addressing Trump's concerns about border security and drug trafficking.
“We must have strong security at the border and reduce drug trafficking,” he said at a conference organized by municipal leaders.
Kinew said he wants the government to hire more RCMP officers and invest in new technology that can help stop drug traffickers at the border.
Forecasters have been trying to predict how a second Trump term will affect the Canadian economy. Various estimates have pegged the potential damage to Canada at anywhere from less than half a point of GDP to a devastating five percent.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the federal government has been preparing for a Trump presidency for a long time.
“We have to take it [the tariff threat] seriously, no doubt. On the other hand, I can say that the preparations we have made will be useful in our discussions,” he told reporters on Tuesday morning.
“Trump is not president for two months, so we still have a few weeks to talk.”
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