WASHINGTON –
Donald Trump’s second administration is filling up with a few of his most loyal supporters and lots of the individuals touchdown prime jobs have been vital of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and safety at Canada’s border.
One professional says there are usually not many Canadian allies, to date, within the president-elect’s court docket.
“I do not see an entire lot of pals of Canada in there,” mentioned Fen Hampson, a professor of worldwide affairs at Carleton College in Ottawa and co-chair of the Skilled Group on Canada-U.S. Relations.
Because the Republican chief begins making essential selections about his administration, designations for international coverage and border positions have despatched alerts to Canada, and the remainder of the world, about America’s path ahead.
Trump campaigned on imposing a minimal 10 per cent across-the-board import tariff. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report suggests that might shrink the Canadian economic system, leading to round $30 billion per 12 months in financial prices.
The president-elect can also be vital of giving support to Ukraine in its warfare towards Russian aggression and has attacked the United Nations, each issues the Liberal authorities in Canada strongly backs.
Trump tapped Mike Waltz to be nationwide safety adviser amid growing geopolitical instability, saying in a press release Tuesday that Waltz “might be an incredible champion of our pursuit of Peace by means of Energy!”
Waltz, a three-term congressman from Florida, has repeatedly slammed Trudeau on social media, notably for his dealing with of points associated to China.
He additionally just lately weighed in on the looming Canadian election, posting on X that Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre was going to “ship Trudeau packing in 2025” and “begin digging Canada out of the progressive mess it is in.”
Like Trump, Waltz has been vital of NATO members that do not meet defence spending targets — one thing Canada will not be doing, and will not do for years.
Trudeau promised to satisfy the goal of spending the equal of two per cent of GDP on defence by 2032.
Immigration and border safety have been a key focus for Republicans through the election and quite a few key appointees have their eyes to the north.
It has been reported that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a vocal critic of China, is anticipated to be named Secretary of State.
Rubio has pointed to considerations on the Canada-U.S. border. He just lately blasted Canada’s transfer to simply accept Palestinian refugees, claiming “terrorists and identified criminals proceed to stream throughout U.S. land borders, together with from Canada.”
Trump’s selection for ambassador to the United Nations, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, has additionally centered on the border with Canada.
Stefanik, as a member of the Northern Border Safety Caucus, known as for Homeland Safety to safe the border, claiming there had been a rise in human and drug trafficking.
“We should shield our kids from these harmful unlawful immigrants who’re pouring throughout our northern border in document numbers,” she posted on X final month.
Stefanik has little international coverage expertise, however Trump described her as a “sensible America First fighter.” She repeatedly denounced the UN, saying the worldwide group is antisemitic for its criticism of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
U.S. media studies say longtime Trump loyalist Kristi Noem, South Dakota’s governor, has been chosen to run Homeland Safety. She was on the shortlist to be vice-president till controversy erupted over an anecdote in her e-book about capturing a canine.
“She would not appear to have very heat emotions (towards Canada),” Hampson mentioned
Final 12 months, she claimed to be having conversations with a Canadian family-owned enterprise seeking to relocate to her state due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
However Noem has additionally mentioned that the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Settlement, negotiated below the primary Trump administration, was “a serious win.”
The trilateral settlement is up for overview in 2026.
Robert Lighthizer, Trump’s former commerce consultant, has been a casual adviser for the president-elect’s transition and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland mentioned they continue to be in touch.
He has been touted by analysts as an choice for a number of jobs in Trump’s second administration, together with a return to the commerce file, although Hampson mentioned he’s unlikely to return to the commerce consultant position.
Hampson mentioned there are nonetheless vital questions on how sweeping the tariffs could possibly be and if there might be carve-outs for industries like power. Trump and his crew might also hold the tariff risk over upcoming commerce negotiations.
“Is he going to stay us with a tariff Day 1 or shortly after?” Hampson requested.
Some consultants have known as for Canada to stay calm and concentrate on alternatives quite than fears. Others have known as for daring motion and artistic considering.
Canada revived a cupboard committee on Canada-U.S. relations a bit greater than 24 hours after Trump’s win was secured.
Trudeau mentioned Tuesday in Fredericton that below the primary Trump presidency, Canada efficiently negotiated the trilateral commerce deal by demonstrating that the nation’s pursuits and economies are aligned.
“That’s going to proceed to be the case,” he mentioned.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 13, 2024.
