Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exits the Delta Hotels by Marriott West Palm Beach forward of a gathering with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on November 29, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images through AFP
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Florida on Friday (November 29, 2024) for a dinner with Donald Trump on the U.S. president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago property, because the incoming U.S. chief promised tariffs on Canadian imports.
The unannounced assembly comes on the finish of every week that has seen Canada in addition to Mexico scramble to blunt the affect of Mr. Trump’s commerce threats, which specialists have warned might additionally hit U.S. customers laborious.
A smiling Mr. Trudeau was seen exiting a resort in West Palm Beach earlier than arriving at Mar-a-Lago, making him the newest high-profile visitor of Mr. Trump, whose second term — which begins in January — is already overshadowing the previous few months of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Flight trackers had first noticed a jet broadcasting the prime minister’s callsign making its technique to the southern U.S. State. A Canadian authorities supply later instructed AFP that the 2 leaders have been eating collectively.
Mr. Trump induced panic amongst a number of the greatest U.S. buying and selling companions on Monday when he stated he would impose tariffs of 25% on Mexican and Canadian imports and 10% on items from China.
‘Invasion’ of the U.S. by medicine
He accused the international locations of not doing sufficient to halt the « invasion » of the U.S. by medicine, « in particular fentanyl, » and undocumented migrants.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke with Mr. Trump by phone on Wednesday, although the 2 leaders’ accounts of the dialog differed drastically.
Mr. Trump claimed that Mexico’s left-wing president had « agreed to stop migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border. »
Ms. Sheinbaum later stated she had mentioned U.S.-supported anti-migration insurance policies which have lengthy been in place in Mexico.
She stated that after that, the talks had not revolved round the specter of tariff hikes, downplaying the danger of a commerce conflict.
Billions in commerce
Mr. Biden warned that very same day that Mr. Trump’s tariff threats might « screw up » Washington’s relationships with Ottawa and Mexico City.
« I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do, » Mr. Biden instructed reporters.
For Canada, the stakes of any new tariffs are excessive.
More than three-quarters of Canadian exports, or Can$592.7 billion ($423 billion), went to the United States final yr, and almost two million Canadian jobs are depending on commerce.
A Canadian authorities supply instructed AFP that Canada is contemplating doable retaliatory tariffs towards the United States.
Some have instructed Mr. Trump’s tariff risk could also be bluster, or a gap salvo in future commerce negotiations. But Trudeau rejected these views when he spoke with reporters earlier in Prince Edward Island province.
« Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out, » Mr. Trudeau stated. « There’s no question about it. »
According to the web site Flightradar, the Canadian chief’s aircraft landed at Palm Beach International Airport late Friday afternoon.
Canadian public broadcaster CBC stated that Mr. Trudeau’s public security minister, Dominic LeBlanc was accompanying him on the journey.
Published – November 30, 2024 09:11 am IST
Content Source: www.thehindu.com