Trudeau promised Trump tougher border controls
Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau assured US President-elect Donald Trump that Canada would enhance security along its shared border with the United States, according to a senior Canadian official. The announcement follows a high-level meeting between the leaders in Florida.
Trudeau traveled to Florida on Friday for a dinner meeting with Trump, who has previously threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian imports unless Ottawa takes steps to curb the movement of migrants and drugs across the border.
Given that 75% of Canadian goods and services are exported to the US, the introduction of tariffs could have significant economic consequences for Canada.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who attended the meeting alongside Trudeau and Trump, said the discussion included plans for new security measures.
'We're exploring the acquisition of additional drones, more police helicopters, and the redeployment of personnel,' LeBlanc told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 'We are confident the border is secure, but we want to demonstrate visibly and decisively that we are stepping up efforts.'
LeBlanc added that further details on the security enhancements would be released in the coming days and weeks. He also emphasized Canada’s commitment to making the case against tariffs, highlighting the deep economic interdependence between the two countries.
Following the meeting, Trump described the discussions as "very productive," stating that the topics included border security, trade, and energy.