An Evening in Mar-a-Lago - Canadian View

 

What happened: Trudeau reportedly requested an in-person meeting with Trump after the U.S. president-elect threatened a 25 percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports on Nov. 25. Trump responded with an invite to his Florida residence.   The two leaders sat down to dinner on Nov. 29. Those present at the dinner divulged details about the conversation in comments to the media this week.    Accompanying Trudeau was Canada’s ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, and Trudeau’s top aides.    Accompanying Trump were some of his cabinet picks, including Howard Lutnick (commerce), Mike Walz (national security), and Doug Burgum (interior).    Trump threatened on Nov. 25 to impose the tariffs if Canada and Mexico fail to address illegal migration and drug smuggling at the border. The border was a key topic of discussion at the dinner, along with various trade matters, energy, and Arctic security.   What was reportedly said:    “The message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood,” Canada’s ambassador Hillman told The Associated Press.    Hillman said 99.8 percent of the fentanyl seized at the U.S. border comes from Mexico, and less than 1 percent of America's illegal immigrants enter via the northern border.    Experts told The Epoch Times that fentanyl seizures aren’t the only measure of the problem; it’s also about precursor materials being funnelled through Canada and drug money laundering.    LeBlanc promised more manpower and equipment on the border, including additional drones and police helicopters.    Trudeau told reporters after the meeting that he had an “excellent conversation” with Trump, but did not elaborate. Trump said on his platform Truth Social that the meeting was “very productive” and that Trudeau “has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of U.S. Families.”    Trump made a joke about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state during the dinner, which got a lot of attention after Fox News first reported it.    Trudeau had said the 25 percent tariff would kill the Canadian economy, Fox reported, and Trump joked in response that if Canada can’t survive with its $100 billion trade surplus, maybe it should become the 51st U.S. state and Trudeau could be the governor.   “The president was telling jokes, the president was teasing us. It was, of course, on that issue, in no way a serious comment,” LeBlanc told reporters on Tuesday.   Hillman described the meeting as “social,” “jovial,” and “fun.”   Trudeau briefed opposition leaders on Tuesday about his dinner with Trump. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trudeau in a media scrum after the briefing, blaming him for border and immigration problems. He said Trudeau must remind U.S. leaders how damaging tariffs would be to the U.S. economy.    Trudeau accused Poilievre of not putting aside partisanship to face the tariff threat, and criticized him for amplifying U.S. concerns about the border.    NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called for increased border security, including 1,100 new border agents, not only to prevent tariffs but also to stem the flow of handguns from the United States.

President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the NATO summit in Watford, England, on Dec. 4, 2019. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Why it matters: The impacts of a trade war could be great on both sides of the border, and the hopes are that this key dinner could establish a mutual understanding that may prevent that scenario. The meeting represented a significant first step in Canada’s relations with Trump’s new administration.   What’s next: LeBlanc told a House of Commons committee on Tuesday that more details on border measures will be announced before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump did not give any clear indication of plans to scrap his tariff plan following the meeting, and the next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether he is satisfied by Canada’s action on the border.