Trump's border czar to meet with Canadian officials

31/1/2025 6:17

The new U.S. border czar is expected

to meet with Canada's top public safety official on Friday just

hours before President Donald Trump has promised to level new

tariffs on Canada unless it helps deal with the flow of migrants

and fentanyl across the border, according to two U.S. sources

familiar with the planning.



The meeting will offer Canada an opportunity to make a final

pitch about its border efforts before Trump makes public his

decision on whether or not to follow through on his threats to

impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Saturday.



The situation on Thursday was highly fluid, with Trump

reiterating his intent for tariffs on both countries but

floating a potential exemption for oil, saying he would likely

decide on that on Thursday night.



Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, is expected to meet with

Canadian Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty and others on

Friday to hold preliminary discussions on border issues, the

sources said.



The White House and Canadian embassy did not respond to

requests for comment.



It is the latest in a string of meetings in Washington as

Canada officials seek to avoid economically punishing tariffs

that could trigger a trade war that hurts both economies and

frays an important relationship.



Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Secretary of State

Marco Rubio on Wednesday and has been meeting with lawmakers

during the week to help solicit their support in pushing back

against the tariffs.



Canada announced a C$1.3 billion ($896.92 million) border

security plan in response to Trump's tariff threat. Prime

Minister Justin Trudeau has said less than 1% of irregular

migrants and less than 1% of fentanyl entering the United States

come from Canada.