Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Florida for an unannounced dinner with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Friday, amid rising concerns over Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. The meeting comes as Canada and Mexico work to counteract Trump’s trade policies, which could negatively impact both countries and U.S. consumers.
Trudeau’s visit follows Trump’s announcement earlier in the week that he would impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, along with 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, citing the countries’ failure to stop the flow of drugs and undocumented migrants into the U.S.
While Trudeau remained tight-lipped after the meeting, his government sources indicated that Canada is considering retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. due to the potential economic impact. Canadian exports to the U.S. are crucial to the country’s economy, with over 75% of Canadian exports, valued at $423 billion, going to the U.S.
Trudeau has expressed concern over Trump’s threat, saying that when Trump makes such statements, he is likely to follow through. The outcome of this dinner and further discussions will likely shape the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. in the coming months.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE