Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc in response to President-elect Donald Trump's announcement of a proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods have issued a joint statement on November 26th, 2024.
The ministers emphasized the strong and close relationship between Canada and the United States, particularly in terms of trade and border security.
They highlighted that "Canada and the United States have one of the strongest and closest relationships," and underlined Canada's critical role in the U.S. energy supply, noting that "60 percent of U.S. crude oil imports last year came from Canada."
The statement did not directly address Trump's specific claims about immigrants bringing crime and drugs into the U.S. via Canadian and Mexican borders, which he used to justify the tariff threat.
Instead, the Canadian officials focused on the importance of ongoing cooperation, particularly in law enforcement efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis originating from China and other countries.
While the Canadian ministers did not explicitly mention Trump's announcement, they reaffirmed their commitment to discussing critical issues with the incoming administration. This reflects the broader context of North American trade relations and the complexities involved in maintaining border security amidst geopolitical changes.
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