US President Donald Trump has intensified his verbal clash with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, suggesting tough talks lie ahead as Canada attempts to defuse a burgeoning trade conflict.

On Wednesday, Trump utilized his social media outlet, Truth Social, to recount a midday telephone conversation with Trudeau.

“The call concluded in a somewhat friendly manner,” Trump stated without elaborating on the details.

However, the Republican president accused Trudeau of inadequacy in addressing fentanyl trafficking, a point analysts argue is trivial at the Canadian border.

Trump additionally questioned Trudeau’s role in the upcoming Canadian federal election, apparently trying to provoke doubts about his government’s legitimacy, as he has done with other international leaders.

A retinue of products from Canada and Mexico, major US trading partners and neighbors, now face 25-percent tariffs, a move that Trump originally threatened in early 2024 to persuade the countries to reinforce their borders.

Trump suggested that Canada could evade the tariffs by relinquishing its sovereignty and becoming the 51st US state. In response to Trump’s move, both Canada and Mexico introduced counter-tariffs, triggering the early stages of the trade war.

Trudeau emphasized that he and the Canadian populace, while known for being polite and reasonable, would not retreat when the country’s well-being is at stake.

The tariffs have already stirred concerns among several industries, with major US automakers seeking a temporary reprieve from them.

Canada, while pushing for an end to the trade war, has filed a complaint concerning the tariffs with the World Trade Organization, arguing they contravene a free-trade agreement established during Trump’s first term.

Trump underscored fentanyl as a principal issue in the tariff discussions on Truth Social, accusing Trudeau of insufficiently addressing drug smuggling and blaming Canada for weak border policies leading to numerous fatalities.

Experts contest the focus on fentanyl at the Canadian border, noting that the quantities of the drug crossing into the US from the north are minimal.

Nevertheless, Trump defended the scrutiny on fentanyl, asserting that the issue was urgent and serious.

Regarding the tariffs’ justification, Trump dismissed a reporter’s inquiry, calling it disrespectful to families affected by drug-related deaths.

Moreover, Trump has leveraged the tariffs to press Canada into yielding its sovereignty and aligning with the US.

The Canadian Finance Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, has maintained that his government seeks the complete elimination of the tariffs, vowing to uphold the free trade agreement.

In response to Trump’s insensitive insinuations about Canada’s upcoming election, Trudeau has seemingly seen a boost in popularity for his Liberal Party amidst the tensions, considered by observers to be partially a result of aversion to Trump’s approach.

As Trudeau prepares to step down as Liberal Party leader in March, the Canadian public may vote to determine his successor even earlier than the mandated October 20 election date.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/6/trump-ratchets-up-tariff-tension-with-canadas-trudeau-over-border-policies?traffic_source=rss