Donald Trump says he had a “very productive meeting” with Justin Trudeau amid the threat of harsh trade tariffs the U.S. president-elect announced last Monday.
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The Prime Minister jetted to the Sunshine State on Friday night to attend a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, where Trump’s transition team has set up shop.
However, following the meeting, it was not made clear from Trump that his suggested 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada would be off the table once he takes office for a second term in January.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump said both countries agreed to work together on the drug crisis and illegal immigration at the American border.
“I just had a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, where we discussed many important topics that will require both countries to work together to address, like the fentanyl and drug crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of illegal immigration, fair trade deals that do not jeopardize American workers, and the massive trade deficit the U.S. has with Canada,” he wrote.
Trump warned that his administration will take immediate action to protect its citizens from toxic drugs coming across the border, which has led to “death and hardship” across the U.S.
“I made it very clear that the United States will no longer sit idly by as our citizens become victims to the scourge of this drug epidemic, caused mainly by the drug cartels, and fentanyl pouring in from China,” he wrote, adding Trudeau has made a commitment to help the U.S. end the “terrible devastation” for American families.
Trump also said he and Trudeau spoke about energy, trade and the Arctic.
“All are vital issues that I will be addressing on my first days back in office,” Trump wrote.
Trudeau released a short statement on social media hours later, thanking Trump for hosting him.
“Thanks for dinner last night, President Trump,” the Prime Minister wrote on X alongside a photo of both leaders sitting at a dinner table. “I look forward to the work we can do together, again.”
Trudeau told the press gathered outside his West Palm Beach hotel on Saturday that he had “an excellent conversation” with Trump, but he didn’t elaborate on any details of the meeting.
According to Bloomberg, Trudeau’s delegation included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief of Staff Katie Telford.
Attending the dinner with Trump were incoming Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, incoming Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and incoming National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.
Last Monday, Trump promised to charge Canada and Mexico a 25% trade tariff on all products coming into the U.S. once he takes office on Jan. 20 to address the flow of migrants and drugs that cross the border.
“This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long-simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price.”
