Canada holds urgent talks to avert US tariffs

Canadian ministers held urgent talks with top US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees at Mar-a-Lago on Friday to address the looming threat of 25% tariffs on Canadian imports.

Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick and Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum, aiming to defuse tensions over migration and fentanyl trafficking.

The proposed tariffs, a key part of Trump’s agenda, have sparked fears of a trade war that could severely impact Canada, with over 75% of its exports reliant on the US market and nearly two million Canadian jobs tied to trade.

Jean-Sébastien Comeau, spokesperson for Leblanc, described the discussions as “positive and productive,” highlighting Canada’s $694 million Border Plan. “Leblanc and Joly outlined the measures in Canada’s Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives,” Comeau stated.

The Border Plan includes enhanced security measures to address Trump’s concerns and tackle the devastating fentanyl crisis. The US officials reportedly “agreed to relay information to President Trump,” but no commitments were made.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged retaliation if the tariffs are imposed, adding to the mounting stakes. The talks follow political upheaval in Canada after former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s sudden resignation earlier this month. In her resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing populism over economic preparedness.

As tensions persist, the future of Canada-US trade hangs in the balance.