Trudeau Convinces Trump on Canada-Mexico Border Differences

Following a dinner meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President-elect Donald Trump, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, emphasized that Canada's border situation is vastly different from that of Mexico's. The meeting aimed to address Trump's threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods unless Canada curbs drug trafficking and illegal immigration. Hillman stated that Canada experiences virtually no fentanyl trafficking compared to Mexico, where 99.8% of fentanyl seized in the U.S. originates. Trudeau successfully communicated that lumping Canada with Mexico in terms of border issues is unfair, highlighting the low rates of illegal crossings from Canada. Hillman noted that Canada is prepared to invest in further border security measures to alleviate U.S. concerns. This diplomatic effort is crucial as Trump has made border security a priority in his administration.