Trudeau is trying to reassure Canadians who are ‘concerned’ about Trump

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet ministers have tried to allay fears that US President-elect Donald Trump will wreak havoc on trade and destroy Canada’s export-driven economy.

Trudeau said he looks forward to “working with President Trump and strengthening North America’s economic opportunities for middle-class people.”

“We’ve been preparing for this,” Trudeau said Wednesday. “We look forward to doing this work, and we will ensure that this wonderful friendship and partnership between Canada and the United States continues to be of real benefit to Canadians.”

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Trump has vowed a minimum 10 percent tariff on all US goods, and he has not promised to exempt Canada. A review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement – which was negotiated during Trump’s first term – is also scheduled for 2026.

“I know a lot of Canadians are concerned,” said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who was the Canadian in renegotiating the trade deal with Trump six years ago.

“Canada will be absolutely fine,” Freeland continued. “We have a strong relationship with the United States. We have a strong relationship with President Trump and his team. Let’s remember that our trade relations today are governed by the trade agreement concluded by President Trump himself and his team. That is really important.”

Freeland also said Trump understands that Canada-US trade is “good for American workers.”

“Our partnership does not undercut American workers at all, and I know that’s at the heart of President Trump’s and his team’s concerns, because that’s at the heart of our new NAFTA agreement that we’ve concluded with them,” Freeland said.

Trade Minister Mary Ng said the Canada-US trade relationship is “the envy of the world,” and her government will ensure it remains strong under the next Trump administration.

Bloomberg.com

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