Canadian ministers head to Florida for talks with incoming Trump administration: report
Two top Canadian ministers headed to President-elect Trump's home in Florida on Thursday to talk about border security and trade as the incoming president's inauguration day nears.
New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly will be in Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday for the talks this week, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesperson for LeBlanc, told the Associated Press.
Comeau said that LeBlanc alongside Joly will meet with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming "border czar," after Christmas to discuss Canada’s plan to secure the border as part of a bid to avoid sweeping tariffs.
The spokesperson said LeBlanc and Joly "look forward to building on the discussions that took place when the Prime Minister met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month, as well as the positive call the Ministers held with Mr. Tom Homan earlier this month."
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Along with discussing border security, the Canadian leaders hope to center talks on fentanyl trafficking and "negative impacts" of Trump's tariffs on goods.
"The Ministers intend to focus on Canada’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration and the measures outlined in Canada’s Border Plan, as well as the negative impacts that the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods would have on both Canada and the United States," Comeau added in a statement.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports from Canada when he takes office in January unless the country reduces the flow of migrants and fentanyl into the U.S.
Trump has made snide remarks about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media, referring to the ally as "Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada."
The statement on Christmas Day came after Trump suggested to Trudeau that if tariffs on Canada would kill its economy, then perhaps Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canadian imports, meanwhile, have unnerved Canada, which is highly integrated with the U.S. economy.
About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well.
Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian – or $2.7 billion U.S. – worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump team for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
