Trudeau’s relationship with Trump is complicated.
The deputy prime minister worked with Robert Lighthizer, then United States trade representative, to renegotiate the deal.
“That’s why we’ve been very conscientious, very systematic about maintaining our relationship.” Trudeau just rebooted a Cabinet committee to focus specifically on the Canada-U.S. relationship.
Trump took joy in that and called former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau “a fantastic guy,” the official said.
And a senior Trudeau minister signaled a rhetorical shift as the government faces inevitable calls to accelerate defense spending.
The former U.S. official stated, “They will need to carefully consider who had the best personal relationship, forget about professional.”. A. Last week, Ambassador Bruce Heyman stated.
“You need to establish these relationships rather quickly, and you’ll also need to figure out what you give for what you want to get because Donald Trump is such a transactional person. He continued, “That’s the way he thinks.”.
Trudeau and his team worked throughout the week to allay the concerns of provincial premiers, labor leaders, and businesses, including those in Canada’s oil patch.
Many Canadians have been experiencing anxiety this week. On the morning following Trump’s victory, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters, “I want to say with utter sincerity and conviction to Canadians that Canada will be absolutely fine.” That night, many Canadians were worried.
The Liberals are the best party to deal with Trump, according to Trudeau’s team, who have done it before.
The U. A. As of right now, the election has silenced calls from Liberals who want the unpopular incumbent to step down so the party can choose a new leader before the next election. In order to win back voters after years of inflation, Trudeau’s administration must overcome the same obstacle that prevented Vice President Kamala Harris from winning the presidency.
Trump and Trudeau have a complex relationship. The prime minister was caught making jokes about the president on a hot mic in 2019, which prompted Trump to call Trudeau “two-faced.”. In 2022, Trump referred to Trudeau as a “far-left lunatic.” This year, he reiterated the untrue assertion that the prime minister might be the son of Fidel Castro.
During his time in office, Trudeau attacked the MAGA movement and even accused it of undermining support for Ukraine.
Since Trump’s return, Freeland has emphasized that Canada has been in this situation before.
When Trump first took office, he denounced the North American Free Trade Agreement as “the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere.”. He imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada. The deputy prime minister renegotiated the agreement with Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative at the time. They met during the summer and are still close. According to Freeland, they communicated on Election Day and in the days preceding it.
Recently, they have discovered a common cause in opposing Chinese imports, such as vital minerals, of which Canada possesses an abundance and feels can be leveraged to support the expansion of the North American energy and defense industries.
President Trump’s statements are taken seriously by me,” Freeland stated. We’ve been extremely methodical and diligent in upholding our relationship because of this. “.”.
Recently, Trudeau reactivated a Cabinet committee to concentrate on the Canada-U relationship. S. a partnership. It has recently been crowded with senior ministers whose positions depend on ties with the United States, and it last convened during Trump’s first term.
Some have been in the United States on the ground. S. . interacting with state and local leaders for months in the hopes that they will be in the best position to represent Canada’s interests in Congress.
One of the two ministers who has been coordinating a “Team Canada” engagement strategy for months, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, urged everyone to remain composed. They had visited 33 states and met with 42 governors as of August.
Champagne asked Canadians to “breathe deeply.”. “.”.
“Our efforts are yielding results. They are aware of our strategic significance in the energy sector, semiconductors, and critical minerals. We will argue for Canada. The people are already texting us, and we know them,” he said.
Although he refused to name them, he maintained that they are part of Trump’s inner circle.
This week, Trudeau’s top Cabinet ministers spent time highlighting the Americans in their rolodexes—contacts from Trump’s former government. The prime minister’s team members were attempting to connect their boss with the president-elect by working the phone lines.
Canada, which frequently comes first on newly elected presidents’ call lists, lagged at least behind India in line.
Eventually, at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Trudeau and Trump spoke. A. followed by posts about their calls from leaders of Italy, Ukraine, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
A high-ranking official with knowledge of the discussion, who was given anonymity to speak freely, presented the exchange as constructive.
According to the official, Trump told Trudeau, “We had a great relationship and got a lot done together.”.
Trump’s victory was compared by Trudeau to his own father’s victory following an election defeat. The official claimed that Trump was pleased with that and referred to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as “a fantastic guy.”.
The two talked about North American security, supply chains, trade, and fentanyl, which is a problem on both sides of the border due to drugs stolen from China.
Unlike in 2016, when Trump’s victory caught Ottawa off guard, Trudeau’s administration feels it has more clout this time.
“They understand that we have evolved from being the north’s friendly neighbor to a strategic partner,” Champagne said.
The United States’ largest export destination is still Canada. S, shipping almost C$600 billion worth of goods last year. Freeland stated on Friday that it is larger than the combined size of China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France.
Although Trudeau’s Cabinet is adamant that they will prioritize domestic interests, the Liberal government wants to collaborate with the Trump administration on security, supply chain resilience, and growth.
This week, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault told reporters, “Canada is independent from the United States and we adopt our own laws and regulations.”. “We are not and will not be a perfect replica of the United States. “”.
Its “unwavering and unequivocal” support for Ukraine, which has a sizable diaspora community in Canada, is part of its self-interest. Although he hasn’t specified how, Trump has pledged to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since Trump’s victory, Trudeau and his Cabinet have increased their communication with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and their Ukrainian counterparts. Rutte stated this week that Trump is “right” when he says that some members of NATO should increase their defense spending.
A senior Trudeau minister also hinted at a change in tone as the administration is unavoidably being pressured to increase defense spending.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly emphasized that Canada would meet its NATO spending goal in an interview with CBC News this week. On the file, she identified herself as “hawkish,” a new term for a government that hardly ever, if ever, uses such characteristics to characterize itself.
The administration of Trudeau wants to appear unfazed.
In his remarks on Friday on the Hill, Freeland stated, “I have found that President Trump respects strength and respects individuals and nations that are strong and clear in defending their countries — in defending their national interest.”.
That is what I have always done and will do in the future. “.”.
