Trump mentioned border, commerce with Canada’s Trudeau after pledging steep tariffs

By Ismail Shakil and Tim Reid

OTTAWA (Reuters) -U.S. President-elect Donald Trump mentioned on Saturday he mentioned the border, commerce and vitality in a “very productive” assembly with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid fears of a commerce struggle.

Trudeau paid an unannounced go to to Florida on Friday night and had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, days after Republican Trump pledged to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports after he’s sworn in as president in January.

That pledge has raised fears of a commerce struggle between the U.S. and two of its largest buying and selling companions.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum warned this week that Trump’s tariff plan would have dire penalties for each nations and recommended doable retaliation.

Trump needs to make use of tariffs as a software to get Mexico and Canada to assist stem the circulation of unlawful medicine into the U.S., notably the lethal opioid fentanyl, and in addition migrants crossing illegally into the U.S.

“We mentioned many necessary matters that may require each Nations to work collectively to deal with, just like the Fentanyl and Drug Disaster that has decimated so many lives on account of Unlawful Immigration, Honest Commerce Offers that don’t jeopardize American Employees, and the huge Commerce Deficit the U.S. has with Canada,” Trump mentioned in a submit on Fact Social.

“Trudeau has made a dedication to work with us to finish this horrible devastation of U.S. Households,” he added.

Trudeau, in a submit on social media X on Saturday, mentioned he appeared ahead to the 2 working collectively.

“Thanks for dinner final evening, President Trump. I stay up for the work we will do collectively, once more,” Trudeau mentioned.

The prime minister’s workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark concerning the assembly.

A Canadian authorities official, talking on the situation of anonymity, instructed Reuters that it was a optimistic, wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.

On Friday, Trudeau mentioned at a information convention in Canada he was taking the doable tariffs critically.

“Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out,” he mentioned.

Many economists have warned Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on imports will improve prices for U.S. customers.

Trump has mentioned tariffs on buying and selling companions will assist shield U.S. producers and increase home job progress.

In a separate submit, Trump referred to as on the so-called BRICS nations to decide to not creating a brand new foreign money or supporting one other foreign money over the U.S. greenback.

If these nations achieve this they’ll face “100% tariffs”, Trump mentioned.

BRICS refers to authentic members of the intergovernmental group of economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

It additionally contains Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

“We require a dedication from these Nations that they’ll neither create a brand new BRICS Foreign money, nor again every other Foreign money to switch the mighty U.S. Greenback or, they’ll face 100% Tariffs, and may anticipate to say goodbye to promoting into the fantastic U.S. Financial system,” Trump wrote.