Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says world leaders have been seeking his advice on how to work with President-elect Donald Trump, particularly when it comes to trade.
Trudeau made the comments after two days of meetings at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ gathering on Nov. 16.
During Trump’s first presidency, the United States, Mexico, and Canada signed a trilateral trade agreement, the successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canada had to make concessions to its dairy supply management system before the deal could be signed.
Trudeau said he has been advising leaders to focus on win-wins.
“There are going to be challenging moments ahead, that Donald Trump will very much be focused on what’s good for the United States. But because trade can and should fundamentally be a win-win, there are ways to work in serious but frank and open engagements that deliver opportunities for people.”
During the U.S. election campaign, Trump said he was going to impose tariffs of a minimum of 10 percent.
“People are being thoughtful about how to position themselves over the coming years in a way that’s going to be constructive,” Trudeau said at the news conference. “It’s an approach that is perhaps a little less surprised or anxious than it was eight years ago when Donald Trump was first elected.”
He said that a lot of countries are preparing for possible challenges they will face with a Trump administration.
“A lot of countries are focused on building up resilience and capacity to respond to those challenges, as opposed to wondering whether or not those challenges are going to materialize. I think people know those challenges are going to materialize,” Trudeau said.
He also said various leaders have sought his advice, but would not name the countries or indicate the region the leaders were from.
“Ideally, trade is about creating opportunities for more people to join the middle class in countries around the world, and that’s certainly why we see one of the best things to do with trade is to see people lifted up in countries like Mexico and other emerging economies,” Trudeau said.
The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement is set to be reviewed in 2026, and Trudeau said he’s hopeful about what could be accomplished in the next round of negotiations.
“I am hopeful that we’re going to be able to do it within the context of trilateral negotiations and renew and strengthen NAFTA in ways that work for all three of our countries,” he said.
