Trudeau meets with the premiers as Trump ramps up his threats against Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers of Canada convened on Wednesday to discuss strategy in response to the threats made by president-elect Donald Trump to impose punitive tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump’s threats have put the bilateral relationship between the two countries in jeopardy, prompting Trudeau and his team to come up with a united front against the U.S.

During the meeting, Trudeau assured the premiers that Canada is well-prepared to handle Trump in his second term, citing past experience with the incoming president. The focus of the discussion revolved around the border and the mutually beneficial trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc emphasized the need for a united and coordinated approach in dealing with the threats.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed concerns about the federal government’s approach to the energy industry, stating that the punitive measures taken against the sector could harm Canada’s relationship with the U.S. Smith urged Trudeau to address Trump’s concerns about illegal migration and drugs to avoid devastating tariffs on Canadian goods.

There has been speculation about personal animosity between Trudeau and Trump, with Trump’s former adviser John Bolton claiming that the president-elect does not like Trudeau. However, Trudeau recently had a productive conversation with Trump, emphasizing the economic repercussions of imposing tariffs on Canadian products.

There is still uncertainty about who is leading Canada’s efforts to dissuade Trump from implementing tariffs. Smith raised concerns about Trudeau’s ability to negotiate with Trump and suggested that premiers with better relationships with their U.S. counterparts could play a more effective role in addressing Trump’s concerns.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey highlighted the need for a mature conversation about border issues, emphasizing that tariffs on Canadian goods would not address the real issues impacting both countries. Furey stressed the importance of finding solutions to issues such as illegal migration, drugs, and firearms crossing the border in a way that maintains the positive relationship between Canada and the U.S.

Overall, the meeting between Trudeau and the premiers underscored the importance of presenting a united front against Trump’s threats and finding constructive ways to address the issues affecting the Canada-U.S. relationship. It remains to be seen how Canada will navigate the challenges posed by the incoming administration and maintain a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S.