Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly appeared in Florida's Mar-a-Lago to meet US President-elect Donald Trump. It was not a state visit, but was believed to be a surprise visit due to Trump's threat of tariffs and border concerns.
London-based news agency Reuters reported that Trudeau was seen leaving a West Palm Beach hotel for Trump's private resort on Friday. Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc was with Trudeau. However, no official response has yet come from any side.
Trump recently threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports if Canada and Mexico fail to control the flow of drugs and immigrants. According to experts, the imposition of these tariffs could be a major blow to the Canadian economy.
Canada is one of the largest oil producing countries in the world. A significant portion of the 4 million barrels of oil a day is exported to the United States. However, Reuters reported that the Trump administration has no plans to impose tariffs on oil.
Political and economic pressure is also seen as the reason behind this visit of Trudeau. In Canada, Trudeau's popularity has declined in recent years due to slow economic growth and rising living costs. According to a poll, his Liberal Party is likely to be defeated by the Conservative Party in the 2025 election.
Trudeau met with the chief ministers of Canada's 10 provinces this week to vow to remain united in the face of Trump's threat of tariffs.
