Canadian PM Trudeau in Florida to meet Trump, say media reports

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Donald Trump’s Florida resort on Nov 29 to meet the US President-elect, days after Trump threatened to slap tariffs on Canadian imports over border-related concerns.

The visit makes Mr Trudeau the first head of government from the Group of 7, a key forum of global coordination consisting of the world’s wealthiest democracies, to visit the US President-elect, said The New York Times.

The pair dined together, one official said, along with a delegation of senior Trump allies poised for top trade and security positions in his new administration.

Mr Trudeau was accompanied by Mr Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety.

On the Trump side of the table, an official said, the dinner was attended by North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to be interior secretary; Mr Howard Lutnick, who is Trump’s selection for commerce secretary; and Mr Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice for national security adviser.

Mr Trudeau’s public itinerary does not list a scheduled visit to Florida. Neither his office nor Trump’s representatives immediately responded to requests for comment.

The Canadian leader, on returning to his hotel after spending about three hours at Mar-a-Lago, did not respond to questions about what was discussed over dinner.

On Nov 25,

Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico

until the countries clamped down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border.

Officials from Mexico, Canada and China, along with major industry groups, have

warned that the hefty tariffs threatened by Trump would harm the economies of all countries involved

, cause inflation to spike and damage job markets.

Any hit to the Canadian economy would add to Mr Trudeau’s woes at a time when his popularity has sunk in part due to a slowing economy and a rapid surge in the cost of living over the past few years. Polls show his Liberals would lose to the opposition Conservative party in an election that must be held by late October 2025.

Mr Trudeau this week pledged to stay united against Trump’s tariffs threat

, and called a meeting with the premiers of all 10 Canadian provinces to discuss US relations.

Canada is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer and sixth-largest natural gas producer. The vast majority of its four million barrels per day of crude exports go to the US.

Trump’s plan does not exempt crude oil from the trade penalties, two sources familiar with the plan told Reuters on Nov 26. REUTERS, NYTIMES