Ministers of the Canadian Government of Justin Trudeau they moved yesterday Thursday to Florida for talks with the US president-elect’s team Donald Trumpas Ottawa scrambles to try to avoid a looming trade war with Washington.

New Finance Minister Dominique LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie traveled to Florida, where the Republican lives, to “meet with an official of the future Trump administration,” explained Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesman for Mr. Leblanc, with his announcement, a copy of which came into the possession of the French Agency.

Talks are scheduled to take place today “on Canada’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration,” the text said, which did not specify who would be meeting.

Before even taking office on January 20, 2025, the 45th and soon to be 47th US President Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported into his country from Canada and Mexico, a decision he justified by citing the opioid crisis, in particular of fentanyl, and the question of immigration, of “invasion”, according to him.

Prime Minister Trudeau said that there would be retribution if such tariffs were imposed, without giving details.

The members of his government are expected to inform today the team of Mr. Trump on a new plan to secure the Canadian border, which will cost more than one billion Canadian dollars (more than 660 million euros), which was drawn up after the Republican threat.

Also, in the talks, the Canadian side will touch on “the negative consequences that the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian products would have for both Canada and the USA”.

The implementation of a measure of this nature would have a devastating impact on the Canadian economy, according to experts, as the US is the country’s main trading partner.

This trip to Florida takes place against the background of the serious political crisis in Canada.

Prime Minister Trudeau has his back against the wall as he withdrew his support for the Canadian Left party government, while discontent and calls for him to step aside are building within his own party. The trigger was the recent resignation of the vice president of his government, who trumpeted her disagreements about the way Mr. Trudeau means to manage the looming trade war.

According to Canadian media reports, both Ms. Jolie and Mr. LeBlanc may be candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party in the event that Mr. Trudeau, who is being urged to resign even by his former close allies.