Top Canadian leaders to meet with Trump aides to discuss tariffs

Two senior Canadian ministers visited President-elect Trump's home in Florida on Thursday to discuss border security and trade ahead of the new president's inauguration day.

New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will be in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday for this week's discussions, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, LeBlanc's spokesman, told The Associated Press.

Comeau said LeBlanc and Joly would meet with Tom Homan, Trump's new “border czar,” after Christmas to discuss Canada's plan to secure the border as part of an attempt to avoid drastic tariffs.

The spokesperson said LeBlanc and Joly “look forward to building on the discussions that took place when the Prime Minister met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month, as well as the positive appeal that the ministers had with Mr. Tom Homan earlier this year. month.”

Trump suggests Canada become 51st state after Trudeau says tariffs would kill economy: sources

US President Donald Trump (left) speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the NATO summit plenary session at the Grove Hotel in Watford, north east London. (NICOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

In addition to discussing border security, Canadian leaders hope to focus discussions on fentanyl trafficking and the “negative impacts” of Trump's tariffs on goods.

“The ministers intend to focus on Canada's efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration and on the measures outlined in Canada's Border Plan, as well as the negative impacts that the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian products would have on both Canada and the United States. “, added Comeau in a press release.

Trump threatened to impose tariffs on imports from Canada when he takes office in January unless the country reduces the flow of migrants and fentanyl to the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a meeting at Winfield House in London on December 3, 2019. (Getty Images)

Trump made sarcastic remarks about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media, referring to his ally as “Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada.”

Trump speaks out on political unrest in the 'great state of Canada', the trolls are 'Governor Justin Trudeau'

The Christmas Day statement came after Trump suggested to Trudeau that if tariffs imposed on Canada risked killing its economy, then perhaps Canada should become the more important country. 51st American state.

Canadian flag. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Trump's threats to impose tariffs on Canadian imports have angered Canada, which is heavily integrated into the U.S. economy.

About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports come from Canada, as do 85% of U.S. electricity imports.

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Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian dollars – or $2.7 billion US dollars – worth of goods and services cross the border every day. Canada is the primary export destination for 36 U.S. states.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Team Trump for comment.

Bradford Betz of Fox News Digital and the Associated Press contributed to this report.