Canadian officials have pledged enhanced border security and anti-fentanyl measures to address President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
Top Canadian officials are working to reassure the incoming Trump administration of their commitment to border security, with the country’s public safety minister pledging to further strengthen protocols to combat the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl into the United States, a key demand from President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods unless Ottawa gets tougher on border security.
In response to a warning from Trump, the chairs of the Canada-U.S. relations cabinet committee, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, said in a statement issued Monday night that Canada “places the highest priority on border security and the integrity of our shared border.”
Trump previously said Canada would pay a “very big price” if they failed to solve the “long simmering problem” of fentanyl and illegal immigrants flowing into the United States from Canada.
In their response, the pair of Canadian officials noted that law enforcement agencies from both countries have been working closely together to “disrupt the scourge of the fentanyl coming from China and other countries” and that they’ll continue their joint efforts in this regard. They also pledged that the Canada Border Services Agency will strengthen its ability to detect illicit drugs crossing the border, including by the use of enhanced inspections at ports of entry, detector dogs, and high-tech.
“We will of course continue to discuss these issues with the incoming administration,” they said, echoing remarks Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made to reporters on Tuesday, when he said that he had spoken to Trump by phone to discuss his concerns and promised to keep the dialogue going.
“This is something that we can do. Laying out the facts, moving forward in constructive ways,” Trudeau said. “This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on and that’s what we’ll do.”
Trump announced on Nov. 25 that one of his first actions after being sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025, is to sign an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico, adding that the tariffs will remain in place until both countries take tougher action to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States.
While the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States from Mexico is far greater than from Canada—2.1 million compared to 198,000 in fiscal year 2024—the issue of reducing unauthorized border crossings as a whole is a key priority for the Trump administration.
Trump has also pledged to enact a massive deportation program to remove those residing in the country unlawfully, with Tom Homan, the president-elect’s pick to oversee the removals, saying recently he views the border with Canada as an “extreme national security vulnerability.”
Homan expressed concern about individuals with terrorist links crossing into the United States, noting that fewer agents are assigned to secure the Canadian border due to the higher priority placed on the Mexican border.
Perrin Beatty, a former Canadian cabinet minister and ex-CEO of the country’s Chamber of Commerce, told Canada’s public broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday that any resolution of the tariff matter must involve Canadian officials signaling their understanding that national security is a key priority for the incoming Trump administration.
“We need to demonstrate that we are taking security at our border very seriously before the inauguration, not waiting until then,” Perrin said, adding that waiting until Trump is sworn into office on Jan. 20 to engage with the incoming administration on the issue risks making matters worse.
Perrin called for a “coherent, shared approach” on Canada’s part, in particular by Canadian business and provincial leaders, for engaging with American partners on the importance of the U.S.–Canada trade relationship.
“But before any of that can be successful, we have to demonstrate to the Americans—for them security is the No. 1 issue—that we take it just as seriously as they do,” he said.
“That’s the key to unlocking any other discussion. You will not get to the discussion about trade unless you can unlock the security issue first.”
Canada’s provincial leaders have also called on Ottawa to tighten border security in light of Trump’s warning.
During his presidential campaign, Trump said he would impose broad tariffs of between 10 and 20 percent on all goods imported to the United States. While he said Mexico could be targeted with higher tariffs, he had not previously discussed his plans for Canada.
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday she would seek dialogue and cooperation with Trump following his pledge to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexico over drugs and illegal immigration.