- Trump threatens to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.
- Officials and industry groups warn that massive tariffs will lead to higher inflation.
- The tariff threats come amid Trudeau’s declining popularity in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Donald Trump’s Florida resort on Friday to meet with the US President-elect, days after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian imports over border concerns.
Trudeau, whose public itinerary did not include a scheduled visit to Florida, was seen leaving a hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida, heading to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to Reuters. Reuters a witness.
Trudeau’s office and Trump’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Monday, Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico until the two countries crack down on drugs, especially fentanyl, and immigrants crossing their borders with the United States.
Officials from Mexico, Canada and China, along with major industry groups, warned that the massive tariffs threatened by Trump would hurt the economies of all countries involved, cause inflation to soar and hurt labor markets.
Any blow to the Canadian economy would add to Trudeau’s problems at a time when his popularity has declined in part due to a slowdown in the economy and high costs of living over the past few years. Opinion polls show that Trudeau’s Liberals will lose to the opposition Conservatives in the election, which must be held by late October 2025.
Trudeau this week pledged to remain united against Trump’s tariff threat and called a meeting with the premiers of Canada’s 10 provinces to discuss US relations.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is traveling with Trudeau. CBC News I mentioned.
Canada is the world’s fourth largest oil producer and sixth largest natural gas producer. The vast majority of its four million barrels of crude oil exports per day go to the United States.
Two sources familiar with the plan said that Trump’s plan does not exempt crude oil from trade sanctions Reuters Tuesday.