▲ U.S. President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing officials from the U.S. and Canadian governments, that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s request for a phone call just before imposing a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico starting on the 4th of this month (local time).
According to WSJ, President Trump spoke with Prime Minister Trudeau after the tariffs were imposed, and while externally described as amicable, the conversation was reportedly heated and included profanity.
Trump had decided to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico last month after consultations with the leaders of both countries and postponed the implementation by a month, with the tariffs taking effect on the 4th.
Canadian government officials reported that Prime Minister Trudeau attempted to call President Trump for negotiations a few hours before the tariffs were implemented on the 3rd, but President Trump did not take the call.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also reportedly requested such a call with President Trump before the tariffs took effect, but it was unsuccessful.
President Trump confirmed his intent to proceed with the tariffs on Mexico and Canada, stating there was “no room for negotiation” while announcing a new U.S. investment by TSMC.
Canadian and Mexican officials were hopeful that negotiations with the U.S. would progress before the implementation, and expected Trump administration officials to recommend an extension of the tariff delay to President Trump, according to WSJ.
However, their expectations were dashed, reinforcing the point that only President Trump can speak for himself, as noted by WSJ.
Canadian sources cited in WSJ highlighted that Trump administration members seemed unaware of President Trump’s plans.
Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, Canada, visited Washington several times last month, and the Trump-associated individuals he met appeared to be in the dark about President Trump’s plans, WSJ reported.
Ford criticized President Trump, saying, “He moves the goalposts while you’re asleep.”
Nonetheless, WSJ noted that within the Trump administration, there was a prevailing notion that imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada was necessary to signal the seriousness of tariff issues and to reset trade relations before renegotiating the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
After the tariffs were enacted, President Trump had a 50-minute phone call with Prime Minister Trudeau on the 5th.
Following the call, President Trump, via social media, pointed out Canada’s inadequate response to the fentanyl issue, the reason for the U.S. tariffs on Canada, but mentioned the call ended “somewhat amicably.”
However, WSJ reported that the call was, in reality, heated and included profanity, according to one source.