Two top Canadian officials visited President-elect Trump’s home in Florida on Thursday to discuss border security and trade as the incoming president’s inauguration approaches.
New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly will hold meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday, according to Jean-Sébastien Comeau, LeBlanc’s spokeswoman.
Comeau stated that LeBlanc and Joly will meet with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar,” after Christmas to discuss Canada’s plan to safeguard the border as part of an effort to prevent broad tariffs.
The spokesman reported that LeBlanc and Joly “look forward to building on the discussions that took place when the Prime Minister met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month, as well as the positive call the Ministers held with Mr. Tom Homan earlier this month.”
Along with border security, Canadian authorities aim to focus on fentanyl trafficking and the “negative impacts” of Trump’s tariffs on commodities.
“The Ministers intend to focus on Canada’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration and the measures outlined in Canada’s Border Plan, as well as the negative impacts that the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods would have on both Canada and the United States,” Comeau said in a news release.
Trump has threatened to levy tariffs on Canadian imports after he takes office in January unless the country decreases the flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States.
Trump has made disparaging remarks about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media, referring to the ally as “Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada.”
The statement occurred on Christmas Day, after Trump proposed to Trudeau that if tariffs on Canada would destroy the country’s economy, Canada should become the 51st US state.
Meanwhile, Trump’s threats to levy taxes on Canadian imports have alarmed Canada, which is heavily reliant on the American economy.
Canada supplies over 60% of the United States’ crude oil imports, as well as 85% of its electricity imports.
Every day, nearly $3.6 billion in products and services cross the border in Canada, or $2.7 billion in the United States. 36 U.S. states consider Canada their top export destination.