By Mariane Angela, Daily Caller News Foundation | January 09, 2025
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday on CNN that Canada could intensify its efforts to bolster border controls. During an appearance on “The Lead With Jake Tapper,” Trudeau said that while Canada has been an effective partner in North American trade and security, there is room for improvement in border management. Trudeau’s comments come during a period of strained relations following President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian exports.
“The conversation on tariffs started around border concerns, and what I spoke with him about it in Mar-a-Lago was the fact that less than 1% of migrants into the United States, less than 1% of fentanyl into the United States, comes from Canada. But there are absolutely more things we can do,” Trudeau told Tapper.
The prime minister said that strengthening the border would not only address specific concerns raised by Trump but also enhance North American competitiveness on a global scale.
“That’s a clear win for President Trump, to do even more to reduce even further the the minimal amounts coming in. On trade, there‘s more that we can do, but we should be focused on making sure that we‘re replacing Chinese lithium or Chinese germanium or Russian titanium into American productions by relying on your closest and friendliest trading partner in Canada,” Trudeau said. “We can be a strong supplier of things that the U.S. needs to compete around the world because we can do it together. That‘s the argument that I‘m making.”
Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 24,000 individuals along the northern border in fiscal year 2024, which represents an approximate 140% increase from the previous fiscal year, according to data from the U.S. Customs And Border Protection. In response to potential immigration surges following Trump’s election late last year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which oversees border security, is set to enhance its immigration enforcement by recruiting additional personnel, acquiring more vehicles, and constructing new processing facilities.
Mariane Angela is a news reporter at the Daily Caller News Foundation
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