December 24, 2024

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a press conference on the RCMP investigation of “violent criminal activity in Canada linked to India” on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on October 14, 2024.

Blair Gable | Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Donald Trump’s Florida resort on Friday to meet with the U.S. president-elect, days after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian imports over border-related issues.

Trudeau, who has no scheduled visit to Florida listed on his public itinerary, was seen leaving a hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida, heading to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to Reuters witnesses.

Trudeau’s office and representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump on Monday threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico until those countries crack down on drugs (specifically fentanyl) and immigrants crossing the U.S. border.

Officials in Mexico, Canada and China, as well as major industry groups, have warned that the high tariffs threatened by Trump will harm the economies of all countries involved, causing inflation to surge and damaging the job market.

Any hit to Canada’s economy would exacerbate Trudeau’s woes, as a slowing economy and soaring costs of living have caused his approval ratings to drop over the past few years. Polls show that Trudeau’s Liberal Party will lose to the opposition Conservative Party in the election in late October 2025.

Trudeau this week pledged unity against Trump’s tariff threats and convened a meeting with the premiers of all 10 Canadian provinces to discuss relations with the United States.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is traveling with Trudeau, according to CBC News.

Canada is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer and sixth-largest natural gas producer. The vast majority of the 4 million barrels per day of crude oil exports are sold to the United States

Trump’s plan does not exempt crude oil from trade penalties, two sources familiar with the plan told Reuters on Tuesday.

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