Trudeau pushes ‘Team Canada’ charm offensive, touts Canada-U.S. ties in Philadelphia

There is lots of work to do to fight for progressive values and workers on both sides of the Canada-United States border, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.

During his first trip south of the border since launching a new “Team Canada” charm offensive, Trudeau said his government is continuing long-term efforts to make North American supply chains more resilient.

Trudeau said in Philadelphia that he’s optimistic that Canada’s message will continue to resonate in the coming years, ahead of a U.S. election that could re-elect former president Donald Trump.

The “best argument” against future punitive trade measures is that these “would hurt American jobs as well,” he said.

The visit comes five months after Trudeau dispatched his industry and international trade ministers to lead the new trade strategy with American business leaders, labour unions and state and municipal governments.

The prime minister made the comments after speaking at the Service Employees International Union quadrennial North American convention.

He spoke to a receptive crowd for about 25 minutes, highlighting the close ties between the two countries while also taking time to tout some of his government’s policies, including legislation that would ban the use of replacement workers during a strike and a bill that seeks to provide free access to contraceptives.

“At this moment of global crises and deep uncertainty, Canada and the United States know that we can count on each other,” Trudeau said.

“Today, more than ever, we should remind ourselves of how priceless a partnership like ours is.”

U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris took the stage in the afternoon at the convention before Trudeau. The two met on the sidelines and her office said they discussed co-operation on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

Americans are headed toward a presidential election that will be pivotal for both countries.

A potential return to the White House by Donald Trump brings back memories of the difficult bilateral relationship during his first term.

He has already promised to introduce a 10 per cent flat import tax on all countries if he wins a second time.

In January, Trudeau acknowledged a second Trump presidency isn’t on Canada’s wish list.

“It wasn’t easy the first time and if there’s a second time, it won’t be easy either,” he said in a speech in Montreal.

He noted in that same speech that he spent a lot of time during Trump’s presidency meeting with U.S. state governors to remind them of how much they depend on Canada.

One week later, he launched the renewed “Team Canada strategy on engagement with the United States.”

Trudeau’s one-day visit to Philadelphia also included a meeting with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising star in the Democratic Party who is on a short list of people expected to make a presidential run in 2028.

It’s a strategy similar to the one employed during the Trump presidency, when Ottawa avoided taking on Trump directly as much as possible, and instead looked to businesses and state governments that were more open to discussions.

WATCH | Former U.S. ambassador breaks down what he expects from Trudeau’s visit to Philadelphia

Former U.S. ambassador breaks down what he expects from Trudeau’s visit to Philadelphia

Bruce Heyman, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada, says it’s critical that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and officials at all levels, ‘cement’ relationships with American counterparts and build strong ties that would hold no matter who is president.

The bilateral relationship during President Joe Biden’s term has been friendlier, though not without its own bumps.

Canada and the U.S. have been moving in lockstep on a number of clean-tech innovations, such as growing ties in the electric vehicle supply chain, including critical minerals, EV batteries and semiconductors.

But initially Biden intended to offer a lucrative EV tax credit only to American-made cars. An all-out effort by Canada convinced the U.S. to expand it to include North American-made cars before the credit was finalized.

Canada is the single biggest player for exports in the U.S. economy, representing almost one-fifth of total American exports. Mexico accounts for about one-sixth and China accounts of less than one-tenth.

But the U.S. is a much more dominant market for Canadian exports, accounting for 77 per cent of all Canadian exports in 2023, or almost $600 billion.

China sits in second place with $30 billion, or four per cent of total exports.

Canada has invested $30 billion in the electric vehicle sector in the last two years alone and is becoming the North American hub for EV battery production. But many of those batteries are destined for electric vehicles that will be completed and sold in the U.S.

The U.S. is also looking to Canada as a key supplier of the critical minerals needed for most clean technologies, including renewable power and batteries.

Any adjustments in import taxes could have a devastating effect on that plan.