Chicago December 27, 2024
Two key Canadian officials are set to meet with a representative of President-elect Donald Trump in Florida this Thursday. The discussions will focus on border security and trade issues as Trump’s inauguration day approaches.
Dominic LeBlanc, the new Finance Minister, and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly will travel to Palm Beach, Florida, for these important talks. They plan to meet with Tom Homan, who Trump has chosen as his “border czar,” according to Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesperson for Minister LeBlanc.
The meetings, scheduled to occur just after Christmas, aim to address Canada’s strategies for securing its border. This is a critical topic as Trump has threatened to apply a 25% tariff on Canadian goods if Canada does not reduce the number of migrants and the flow of fentanyl crossing into the U.S. The Canadian ministers will also discuss the severe negative effects such tariffs would have on both countries.
President-elect Trump has been very vocal about his views on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even mockingly calling him “Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada” on social media. Furthermore, Trump’s comment suggesting that imposing tariffs could devastate the Canadian economy, to the point where Canada might become the 51st U.S. state, has added tension between the two nations.
The stakes are high as Canada and the U.S. have a closely tied economic relationship, with significant cross-border trade in crude oil and electricity.
