Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. tariffs on Canada will be “paused” for up to 30 days after Trudeau agreed to border security measures in an afternoon call.
The call, the second held between the two leaders Monday, came just hours before 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods were set to take effect Tuesday, along with 10 per cent tariffs on energy exports to the U.S.
In a social media statement, Trudeau said Canada is implementing the $1.3-billion border security plan first unveiled in December, which includes “reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.”
“Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together,” the prime minister said.
Trudeau added Canada will invest another $200 million to back “a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl,” appoint a “fentanyl czar,” list drug cartels as terrorist organizations, and launch a new Canada-U.S. joint strike force to combat fentanyl, organized crime and money laundering.
The deal Trudeau announced was similar to the one announced by Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum earlier Monday that delayed the implementation of tariffs on Mexico for one month as well.
But it also includes several border security measures the federal government has already committed to, and that Canadian officials have spent weeks detailing to Trump administration officials and U.S. lawmakers in Washington.
“I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Both Canada and Mexico agreed to deploy roughly 10,000 additional personnel to their respective borders with the U.S. as part of the deals that suspended Trump’s tariffs. Trudeau said Canada’s personnel “are and will be” in place.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he was “relieved” to see the tariffs paused, but repeated his call for Parliament to return from prorogation so MPs can pass new economic and security measures to counter Trump’s threats.
“This is not a time to sit back,” Poilievre wrote on X. “We must urgently work to strengthen Canada’s economy and do everything we can to ensure these tariffs are never brought in.”
Still unclear if tariffs tied to border or economic concerns
The agreement came after a day when all eyes were on the two leaders as Canada braced for news on the impending tariffs.
Asked in the Oval Office after the deal with Mexico was announced if there was anything Canada can do to get its own reprieve, Trump said “I don’t know,” but then turned to his frequently mentioned push to acquire Canada.
“I’d like to see Canada become our 51st state,” he told reporters.
“We give them protection, military protection. We don’t need them to build our cars. … We don’t need them for lumber, we don’t need them for anything. We don’t need them for energy.”