On November 30th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago to discuss Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs against Canada.

During the meeting President-Elect Donald Trump made a joke suggesting that if Canada could not handle a proposed 25% tariff on its goods, it might consider becoming the 51st U.S. state. The remark came after Trudeau raised concerns about the potential economic impact of the tariffs, which Trump suggested could be an effective way to address issues like illegal border crossings.

The conversation, which lasted three hours, included playful exchanges, with Trump and other attendees making jokes about Canada’s political future. Trump even mused that while Trudeau was a good prime minister, he could be the governor of a "liberal" Canadian state, or the country could be divided into conservative and liberal states.

Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, downplayed the comment, describing the atmosphere as jovial and highlighting the ongoing diplomatic dialogue between the two nations. She emphasized that the conversation was part of a serious effort to address trade issues and to explore long-term solutions, particularly around border security. Despite the joking nature of the remark, Canadian officials remain focused on preventing the tariff's imposition, which could have significant economic consequences for both countries.

Find out here how to take action if the tariffs are implemented on January 20th, 2025.