In a recent direct engagement with President-elect Donald Trump, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada effectively laid out the contrasts between Canada and Mexico’s respective border situations. The informative dinner which took place at Trump’s exquisite Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, served up far more than just delectable culinary delights. It was an instrumental platform to scrutinize the forthcoming President’s concerns about proposed tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican goods, due to apprehensions about drug trafficking and migration.
Trump, showcasing his decisive leadership, had voiced his readiness to endorse a crucial executive order. This statement would enforce a 25% tariff on any product brought in to the United States from Canada and Mexico. Amid such discussions, Canada’s staunch representative in Washington, Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, stepped up.
Hillman was proud to announce Justin Trudeau’s success in illustrating the stark differences between the Canada-US and Mexico-US borders to Trump. Trump demonstrated excellent comprehension and acknowledged that the borders, indeed, share little similarity, proving the effectiveness of respectful dialogues in diplomatic settings.
Trudeau’s compelling case, facilitated skillfully by Hillman, convincingly pinpointed the lack of fentanyl trafficking from Canada to the US. While occasional seizures do occur, such instances are primarily attributed to personal consumption, not a prolific criminal network. A comforting fact for every American considering health and safety.
To affirm her argument, Hillman highlighted they detect very negligible traces of fentanyl crossing the border from Canada into the United States. According to her, 99.8% of the fentanyl confiscated by the vigilant US authorities has its origins in Mexico, not Canada.
Moreover, she reported similar patterns regarding illegal individuals crossing. A meager 0.6% of all the apprehensions relate to individuals crossing from Canada, yet another nod to the significant differences in the two border situations.
To further illustrate, US customs officials confiscated a modest 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canada-US border last fiscal period, while a staggering 21,100 pounds were accounted for at the Mexico-US border. Hillman made it clear that these cold facts simply cannot be ignored or dismissed.
The arrests related to immigration violations similarly follow the same trend. In October alone, the diligent US Border patrol clocked 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border, while total arrests at the Canadian border from October 2023 to September 2024 only reach 23,721. Clearly, the scenario is patent to any neutral observer.
Hillman also underlined the steadfast endeavor of Canada to beef up border security, having plans for a surfeit of helicopters, drones, and trained personnel. The agreement between the US and Canada that allows illegal migrants entering the US to be returned to Canada, is evidence of a systematic approach that unfortunately, does not exist between the US and Mexico.
In the midst of their substantial discourse, the US’s trade deficit with Canada also came under examination. Hillman noted that the previous year’s deficit of $75 billion (€71 billion) included considerable energy exports. She further framed this in perspective by comparing the economies of both countries- Canada being one-tenth the size of the US.
Canada is the top export destination for an impressive tally of 36 US states, with the total worth of goods exchanged across the border each day nearing $3.6 billion Canadian (€2.4 billion). Additionally, Canada is the primary international source of essential commodities such as steel, aluminum, uranium, and critical minerals that are key for US national security.
Interestingly, around 60% of the US’s crude oil imports and a whopping 85% of its electricity requirements are met by Canada. When considering exports, a lion’s share of 77% makes its way into the US, further cementing Canada’s position among the world’s top trade-dependent nations.
After the productive discussions, Trump remained noncommittal on his stance regarding tariff threats. Hillman was resolute in asserting that the dinner dialogue between Trudeau and Trump was constructive, if not entirely resolving all concerns. While a total tariff-free agreement would have been a plus, it was clear that this would have been a tad idealistic, she remarked.