Canadian Foreign Minister Says There’s ‘Unease’ in Washington Over Trump’s Tariff Approach

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 3, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby) Isaac Teo

Canada’s foreign minister says there is “unease” in the U.S. capital regarding the incoming administration’s approach to tariffs.

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she’s had a great deal of conservations with Republican and Democratic senators, as well as leaders in the Trump administration, as Canada attempts to stave off the tariff threat.

“What I see in Washington, after having many meetings, is that there’s a sort of unease regarding the tariffs approach, because ultimately, Canada is a great friend—the best friend of Americans,” Joly said on Dec. 13 while speaking before the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap a 25 tariff on Canada and Mexico if they don’t step up their efforts to counter illegal migration and drug smuggling at their borders.

Ottawa has since been working on a plan to bolster its border security with new investments, including in technologies to increase aerial surveillance. Details of the plan have yet to be made public but financial details will be disclosed in the Fall Economic Statement to be presented on Dec. 16.

Joly said her job has been to discuss the undisclosed plan with the U.S. side. She said the plan is ready and will have an “excellent budget.”

The minister said she believes the messaging from her government to the incoming administration is resonating, while adding Trump has the last word and there’s “unpredictability.”

Trump has repeatedly joked in recent days about Canada becoming the “51st” U.S. state and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being the “governor,” while arguing that the U.S. has been “subsidizing” Canada. He reportedly first made the comment when Trudeau visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Nov. 29.

Joly said she has been making a related joke of her own when speaking with U.S. politicians.

“The joke I’ve been telling, especially to my Republican senator friends, is that Fort Lauderdale could become Canada’s 11th province, no problem,” she said. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is known for having a sizeable Canadian snowbird population, including a large contingent of Quebecers.

Along with producing a border plan, Canadian officials have also been discussing ways to retaliate against the potential tariffs, which would have a far-reaching impact on the Canadian economy if implemented.

During the first Trump administration, the U.S. had imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium and Ottawa had fought back in kind, until measures were lifted almost a year later.

This time around, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Dec. 11 there have been discussions with provincial premiers about targeting critical minerals and metals exports to the United States. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also said energy exports to the U.S. could be cut as a “last resort.”

Joly didn’t directly comment on Ford’s threat but said Canada will have “many tools” to retaliate.

“We’re going to fight for every job in Quebec and Canada,” she said.