After a phone call with President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will immediately enhance “coordination” with the U.S. and send 10,000 troops to the U.S./Canada border.
Canada’s change in policy comes after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tariff on China, until the countries did more to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs through U.S. borders. In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada and Mexico retaliated with 25% tariffs on American goods. Trudeau said that after his call with Trump, the “tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”
“I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border,” Trudeau said in a statement posted to X.
“In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering,” he added. “I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
Trump confirmed the details of Trudeau’s announcement, writing in a post on Truth Social, “Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country.”
“As President, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. 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. FAIRNESS FOR ALL!” the president added.
Trudeau’s announcement comes just hours after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 troops to the U.S./Mexico border in return for the U.S. pausing its proposed tariffs for one month.
Earlier on Monday, Trump reiterated to reporters in the Oval Office that he would like to see Canada become “a state.”
“We give them protection, military protection. We don’t need them to build our cars. I’d rather see Detroit or South Carolina or Tennessee, any one of our states build the cars. They could do it very easily,” Trump said. “We don’t need [Canada] for the cars. We don’t need them for lumber. We don’t need them for anything. We don’t need them for energy. We have more energy than they do.”
“Why are we willing to lose between a hundred billion and two hundred billion dollars a year?” Trump asked. “We don’t need them. As a state, it’s different.”
