Staff Reports
In the latest episode of “As the World Turns,” the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, bravely trekked down to Florida’s sunny shores for an exclusive dinner with the president-elect, Donald Trump. This upscale powwow, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, comes in the wake of Trump’s steadfast threat to impose sizeable tariffs on products imported from Canada and Mexico. Naturally, this has sent shockwaves throughout Canada and sleepy Mexico City, causing officials to put their most worried faces on display.
Trudeau described the evening as an “excellent conversation,” but it remains dubious whether he was able to soothe the enormous concerns emanating from Trump’s camp. Reports suggest the two leaders discussed everything but the meaning of life over their three-hour meal, covering trade, border security, and even the never-ending drama that is China’s Mideast legacy. It sounds like a typical dinner party, where the real agenda is figuring out who gets to take the last piece of cake.
🇨🇦 Canada's Trudeau says he had an 'excellent conversation' with Trump in Florida after tariffs threat 🇺🇸 https://t.co/US66jxKLSE pic.twitter.com/m4a6UFEXG8
— 1010 WINS on 92.3 FM (@1010WINS) November 30, 2024
Anything that Trump considers doing is generally met with some degree of panic from his neighbors to the north. The president-elect is eyeing a hefty 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico as part of his early executive orders. One can only imagine the trepidation in Ottawa as Trudeau attempted to charm Trump out of his economic schemes. If Trudeau is successful, perhaps he should apply for a Nobel Peace Prize—or at the very least a consolation prize in negotiating.
Many Canadians are nervously wringing their hands as they contemplate the soaring prices on maple syrup and all things poutine that such tariffs could bring. Trudeau tried to get through to Trump by arguing that these tariffs wouldn’t just hurt Canadians—they’d also hit American consumers right where it hurts: their lunches. You have to hand it to Trudeau; he knows just how to tap into the American love for cheap produce. After all, nobody wants a potato shortage, especially not from good ol’ Prince Edward Island.
Given the historical context, it bears mentioning that the last time Trump dabbled in tariffs, Canada retaliated with their own whack of duties—like a trade version of tit-for-tat. At that time, folks across the border suffered just as much as those up north. A booming economic relationship can’t be taken for granted, especially when around $2.7 billion worth of goods and services cross the Canadian-U.S. border daily. Trudeau’s calm demeanor was likely just a mask for the inner chaos as both leaders now juggle the fate of international trade like a couple of clowns in a circus.
So, as Trudeau heads back to his frosty home country and Trump returns to the reality show that is American politics, the question remains—was that dinner merely a polite charade, or were some serious concerns addressed? If history is any guide, the world watches and waits while these two leaders strike a deal, which may or may not rhyme with “free trade.” In the meantime, Canada’s finest might want to consider investing in some bubble wrap, just in case the fallout from trade tariffs blows their way.
