Trudeau Makes Case for Canada in First Meeting with Trump
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made Canadians’ case to President-elect Donald Trump, successfully conveying the vast differences between the US-Canada border and the US-Mexico border. In a high-stakes dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, stressed that comparing the two borders was motivated by flawed logic. "The Canadian ambassador spoke with the news agency and reiterated that the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border, was really understood."
The dinner, a key meeting for Trudeau, was dominated by the new administration’s concerns over immigration and trade. Hillman, present during dinner, highlighted the significant distinctions between Canada and Mexico, emphasizing that Canada poses no comparable threats. The ambassador’s take-away: the chasm in drug seizures, hinting that there is ‘essentially zero trafficking of fentanyl from Canada to the United States.
The problem of fentanyl, largely originating from Mexico, and illegal border crossings presented by a third country, Mexico,
was the focal point of discussion. Hillman acknowledged that while addressing illegal immigration: “While acknowledging the issue the Incoming administration has expressed concerns regarding illegal immigration and trade. To put it into context: “the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year, amidst a costly energy sector
Overall, Hillman characterized the three-hour conversation as “productive”, but stressed that a Texan cowboy attitude surrounds tariff agenda, noting “Trade balances are something that he focuses so it’s important to engage in that conversation, Economist andEDGEantum .
According to Hillman, Canadian nationals wishing to reschedule
Hillman summarized the situation as "We are one tenth the size of the United States so a balanced trade deal would mean you pick buyer five times more from the United States than they are buying from us.” In a national Constructed as a somewhat adversarial, the concluding as “If that’s his metric we will continue to engage on that.” In addition to the formal discussions, the dinner offered an opportunity to establish rapport with the incoming administration. This unique blend of diplomacy and bonding was not matriarch of
As Hillman chronicles:
Earlier that week, the news media reported there will be no immediate slap on tariff.”
The event also listed: joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Lori Loughlin, his nominee for Secretary of Commerce, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead department and be energy Interior
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Also present were David McCormick, just elected U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, and his wife Dina Powell, a former deputy national security adviser under Trump. Rounding out the Alex Reed list wereAllen , this from the armchair, raising Canda
Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, reflecting on the importance
These officials actively work on Trump’s closest ally.
While Canada has a
the US, with a shared lon
How did Prime Minister Trudeau distinguish Canada from Mexico in his meeting with President-elect Trump?
## Trudeau Sells Canada to Trump: Border Security and Trade Top Agenda
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**Host:** Welcome back. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President-elect Donald Trump this past weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, for a crucial first sit-down discussion. Joining us today to discuss the meeting and its implications is our foreign policy analyst, Dr. Emily Carter. Dr. Carter, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** So, Dr. Carter, what can you tell us about this high-stakes meeting?
**Dr. Carter:** It was a significant meeting for both sides, particularly for Prime Minister Trudeau who needed to establish a strong foundation with the incoming Trump administration. According to reports, Trudeau successfully made the case for Canada’s distinct relationship with the United States, highlighting the vast differences between the US-Canada border and its southern counterpart. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-canada-tariffs-mexico-border-e0ee7f9b3dddc80d1260585c11869fff)]
**Host:** It’s interesting you mention those differences. We know the Trump Administration has expressed concerns about illegal immigration and trade deficits.
**Dr. Carter:** Exactly. Reports suggest Canada’s Ambassador to the US, Kirsten Hillman, played a key role in emphasizing those distinctions to the President-elect. She stressed that Canada poses no comparable threats in terms of drug trafficking or illegal border crossings, citing “essentially zero” fentanyl trafficking from Canada to the US. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-canada-tariffs-mexico-border-e0ee7f9b3dddc80d1260585c11869fff)]This clearly differentiates Canada from Mexico, which has faced scrutiny over its role in the fentanyl crisis.
**Host:** So, it sounds like Trudeau‘s message was well-received.
**Dr. Carter:** Ambassador Hillman seemed optimistic about the meeting, stating that the message regarding the difference between the two borders was “really understood.”
**Host:** What about trade? Obviously, that was also a major topic of discussion given the President-elect’s stance on trade deals.
**Dr. Carter:** This is where the situation gets a little more complex. While the specifics haven’t been released, we know the US has a significant trade deficit with Canada. It’s likely Trudeau stressed the benefits of the existing trade relationship and attempted to reassure Trump about the mutual economic interests at play.
**Host:** Well, only time will tell how this all plays out. Dr. Carter, thank you so much for your insights.
**Dr. Carter:** My pleasure.
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