Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Florida on Friday evening for a highly anticipated dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s exclusive estate. The meeting comes in the wake of Trump’s controversial announcement that tariffs would be placed on Canadian imports, creating significant tensions in the trade relationship between the two countries.
Trudeau, seen earlier at a hotel in West Palm Beach, was accompanied by Canadian officials and entered the estate for the dinner following his arrival. His visit, initially unannounced, was first picked up by flight trackers, revealing the prime minister’s private jet en route to the United States.
The dinner follows a series of tweets from Trump earlier in the week, where he outlined his plans to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, sending ripples of concern throughout Canada. As the US remains Canada’s largest trading partner, this move could have far-reaching effects on the Canadian economy, which saw over 75% of its exports, worth nearly $423 billion, directed to the United States last year. With millions of Canadian jobs at stake, the announcement has sparked fears of a major economic disruption.
While the Canadian government has not yet confirmed official responses, sources suggest that retaliatory measures, including tariffs on US goods, are being considered. Trudeau, however, dismissed any assumptions that Trump’s tariff threat may merely be posturing. Speaking to the press earlier in the week, Trudeau firmly stated, “When Donald Trump makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it.”
This visit marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing trade discussions between the neighboring nations, with both leaders facing pressure to find common ground while addressing economic concerns.
