Donald Trump invited Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with him on Friday evening.
While Trudeau was at the presidential home, Trump delivered bad news that told him loud and clear: The days of Canada and Mexico taking advantage of America are over.”
Trump has proposed a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, tying the measure to his pledge to curb the flow of drugs and migrants across U.S. borders. Trudeau has signaled already that he is willing to help stem the flow of fentanyl across the northern border.
The president-elect indicated the tariffs would be among his first executive actions upon taking office in January. While Trump’s team did not elaborate on the dinner discussion, Trudeau commented briefly, characterizing the exchange as constructive.
The stakes of the meeting were high, especially given past tensions between the two leaders. Trump has previously referred to Trudeau as “weak” and “dishonest,” yet the Canadian prime minister was the first G7 leader to meet with Trump following his November 5 election.
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University, suggested the move was calculated, saying, “Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada, and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nonetheless described his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago club as an “excellent conversation,” according to The Washington Times. The meeting followed Trump’s threats to impose significant tariffs on Canada and Mexico, causing concern in Ottawa and Mexico City.
As Trudeau returned to Canada from Florida, it remained unclear whether the discussion had alleviated Trump’s concerns. A source familiar with the three-hour dinner, speaking on condition of anonymity, called it “positive and wide-ranging.” Topics reportedly included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, NATO, Ukraine, China, the Middle East, pipelines, and the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Canada, according to the Washington Times.
The dinner included key figures from both governments. Among the attendees were Trump’s nominees for commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, and national security adviser, Mike Waltz. Trudeau was joined by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief of Staff Katie Telford.
Ahead of the meeting, Trudeau expressed optimism about resolving the tariff issue through dialogue. He also highlighted the potential consequences of such measures, warning that they could harm Canadian and U.S. industries alike by driving up prices and disrupting trade.
Experts have pointed out that new tariffs could jeopardize the recently renegotiated North American free trade agreement, which Trudeau has described as a “win-win” for both nations. Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, observed that Trump likely understands the economic risks but continues to use the tariff threats to project strength.
“His goal is to project the image that he gets action when he talks,” Wiseman said.
Trump has linked his tariff threats to broader concerns about migration and fentanyl. While he cited the Canadian border in his remarks, evidence suggests that the scale of these issues is far smaller compared to the U.S.-Mexico border. Canadian officials have pushed back against being grouped with Mexico in Trump’s rhetoric, while affirming their readiness to bolster border security.
Canada remains the largest export market for 36 U.S. states, with approximately $2.7 billion worth of goods and services crossing the border daily. During Trump’s first term, his administration imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, prompting retaliatory duties from Canada.
Donald Trump is setting the tone that America will reassert itself on the global stage. This vision entails leveraging the United States economic clout and market power to renegotiate trade deals that promote the national interest.
