Justin Trudeau touched down in Florida Friday, slipping into Mar-a-Lago for a quiet dinner with Donald Trump, aiming to defuse the president-elect’s bombshell proposal: a 25% tariff on Canadian goods.
The unannounced visit follows a tense week after Trump declared sweeping tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada unless both nations bolster border security. Trudeau, reportedly the first G7 leader to meet Trump post-election, is bracing for economic fallout that could shatter Canada’s trade-heavy economy.
Canada is rattled. Emergency meetings in Ottawa have rallied provincial leaders to form a “Team Canada” strategy to counter Trump’s demands. Trudeau warned Canadians that Trump “means business” and argued the tariffs would backfire by spiking prices for U.S. consumers and harming American industries.
The stakes are high: 75% of Canada’s exports head south. Key sectors like oil, gas, and automotive hang in the balance. Analysts suggest Trump’s threats might just be leverage, but Trudeau isn’t betting on it.
Friday’s dinner reportedly included Trump’s top economic and national security advisors. Meanwhile, Trudeau faces mounting pressure at home, with critics calling Trump’s plan “devastating” and fearing it could redraw the economic map of North America.
For now, Canada’s message is clear: tariffs would hurt both sides of the border, and they’re fighting to keep the trade partnership intact. But with Trump, nothing is ever certain.
