Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited U.S president-elect, Donald Trump’s Florida resort on Friday days after Trump promised to establish tariffs on Canadian imports over border-related concerns.
Trudeau’s public itinerary did not reveal a scheduled visit to Florida, but he was spotted leaving a hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida, to go to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a Reuters witness.
Trump had issued the threats on Monday to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico until the countries became stricter on drugs, especially fentanyl, and migrants crossing their borders with the U.S.
Officials from Mexico, Canada and China, along with major industry groups, have warned that the hefty tariffs threatened by Trump would harm the economies of all countries involved and cause inflation to spike and damage job markets.
Any extra taxes to the Canadian economy would add to Trudeau’s woes at a time when his popularity has waned in part due to a slowing economy and an increase in the cost of living over the past few years.
Earlier this week, Trudeau promised to stay united against Trump’s tariff threat, even going as far as calling a meeting with the premiers of all 10 Canadian provinces to discuss U.S. relations.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canadian Public Safety Minister is traveling with Trudeau, CBC News reported.
