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Mar 06 2025
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In a recent escalation of rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again targeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, hinting at contentious negotiations as Canada works to defuse an escalating trade conflict between the two countries. The exchange began on Wednesday when Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to give his account of a midday phone conversation with Trudeau.
The U.S. president described the call as ending in a "somewhat friendly manner," although he did not provide details about the substance of the conversation. However, Trump did take the opportunity to criticize Trudeau for failing to adequately address fentanyl trafficking, a topic that has become a significant point of contention in U.S.-Canada relations. Experts, however, note that fentanyl smuggling from Canada remains a minor issue compared to other sources.
Trump's remarks also veered into questioning Trudeau's role in Canada's upcoming federal election, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his government. This approach mirrors Trump's tactic of attempting to challenge the authority of foreign leaders.
The exchange comes on the heels of Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from both Canada and Mexico, two of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. The tariffs, which had been in the works for months, took effect on Tuesday, setting off retaliatory measures from both Canada and Mexico.
Trump had initially announced plans to use the tariffs as leverage to pressure Canada and Mexico to secure their borders more effectively. He also suggested that Canada could avoid the tariffs altogether by becoming the 51st state of the U.S. While both Canada and Mexico had made concessions earlier this year to delay the tariffs, they ultimately went into effect this week, leading to immediate retaliatory tariffs from both countries.
In a statement on Tuesday, Prime Minister Trudeau made it clear that Canada would not back down from defending its interests, warning that a prolonged trade standoff would harm all three nations' economies. As the trade war intensifies, industries in both the U.S. and Canada are feeling the pinch, with major U.S. automakers such as Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors successfully lobbying for a one-month exemption from the tariffs.
Canada has sought to negotiate an end to the trade war with the U.S. while also filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), arguing that the tariffs violate the terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the free trade deal negotiated during Trump’s first term in office.
Fentanyl as a Key Point of Dispute
The focal point of Trump’s latest comments revolves around fentanyl trafficking. In his Truth Social post, Trump accused Trudeau of failing to stop fentanyl from crossing the U.S.-Canada border, despite the fact that data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that only a tiny fraction of fentanyl seizures originate from Canada.
Trump’s remarks focused on the small amounts of fentanyl seized at the northern border, which experts say represents less than 1% of the total fentanyl intercepted in the U.S. During the fiscal year 2024, only 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl were seized at the northern border, compared to nearly 10,000 kilograms confiscated from other sources.
Despite this, Trump continued to blame Trudeau for what he described as "weak border policies," which he claimed are responsible for the deaths of many people in the U.S. The White House, in turn, defended the president’s stance against growing criticism of his motives. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, responding to a reporter’s inquiry about the fentanyl issue, strongly rebuffed suggestions that Trump’s focus on the drug trade was an excuse to justify the tariffs.
Trump’s Criticism of Canadian Elections
In addition to attacking Trudeau's handling of border issues, Trump questioned the legitimacy of Canada’s upcoming federal elections, casting doubt on Trudeau’s leadership. He insinuated that the prime minister was using the trade dispute to prolong his hold on power, writing on Truth Social, “He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious. Like, what’s going on here?”
Trump’s comments about Trudeau’s election practices echo his previous efforts to undermine the legitimacy of foreign leaders, including his recent criticisms of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he called a "dictator" for postponing elections during the war with Russia.
The backlash against Trump’s rhetoric may have unintentionally bolstered Trudeau’s political standing. The Canadian Prime Minister, who had been trailing in polls behind the Conservative Party, has seen a resurgence in support, a shift that some experts attribute to growing public resistance to Trump’s aggressive stance.
Canada’s Response and Negotiations
Despite the escalating trade tensions, Canada has continued to call for the full repeal of the tariffs. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc emphasized that Canada would not accept anything less than the restoration of the free trade agreement that was negotiated under Trump’s administration. "We want the free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico respected," LeBlanc said, adding that Canada would not negotiate a partial reduction of the tariffs.
As the dispute continues, Canada’s efforts to negotiate a resolution have been complicated by Trump’s broader geopolitical ambitions. The U.S. president has repeatedly suggested that Canada should relinquish its sovereignty and join the U.S. as the 51st state, further complicating the already tense relationship between the two nations.
With Trudeau set to step down as leader of the Liberal Party in March, Canada faces a period of political transition, with an election potentially taking place by October. Whether the ongoing trade war will influence Canada’s domestic politics remains to be seen, but Trump’s public criticisms of Trudeau may inadvertently play a role in shaping the outcome.
