Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau voiced concerns on Tuesday about the potential unpredictability Canada could face if Republican frontrunner Donald Trump secures victory in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.
Trudeau, leading the center-left Liberals since November 2015, experienced strained relations with Trump during the latter’s initial four-year term. In 2018, Trump accused Trudeau of weakness and dishonesty, creating a rocky diplomatic dynamic between the two leaders.
“We don’t know exactly what he’ll do … obviously, Mr. Trump represents a certain amount of unpredictability,” Trudeau conveyed to reporters during a cabinet retreat held in Montreal.
Canada heavily relies on the United States, directing 75% of its goods and services exports toward its southern neighbor. The nation remains particularly vulnerable to any potential shift in U.S. policies toward protectionism.
Trudeau highlighted his government’s successful navigation of challenges posed by the first Trump administration, including U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and Washington’s insistence on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), involving Mexico as well.
During the NAFTA renegotiation, Canada adopted a proactive stance, deploying numerous cabinet ministers and top officials to key U.S. states. Their mission was to emphasize the value of continental free trade. Trudeau affirmed that a similar strategy would be employed if faced with similar circumstances this time around.
“We were able to manage Mr. Trump by defending Canadian interests and showing we can create economic growth on both sides of the border,” asserted Trudeau, underlining the effectiveness of Canada’s approach.
Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington, is scheduled to address cabinet ministers on Tuesday, likely offering insights into the current state of U.S.-Canada relations.
A recent poll revealed that about two-thirds of Canadians, surveyed this month, believe that U.S. democracy would struggle to endure another four years with Trump in power. This sentiment reflects widespread apprehension among Canadians regarding the potential impact of a Trump victory on the stability of U.S. governance.
