Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold a cabinet retreat on Jan. 20-21 focused on defending his country’s interests and boosting ties with the United States, his office said in a statement Tuesday.
The ministerial meeting in Quebec province will coincide with the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who recently promised to impose tariffs on Canadian imports and mulled making Canada the 51st state.
“The cabinet will protect and defend Canadian interests, strengthen Canada’s relationship with the United States and make unequivocally clear the mutually beneficial trade and security relationship the two countries share,” Trudeau said in the statement.
Trump has threatened both Canada and Mexico with sweeping 25 percent tariffs if they do not stop the movement of immigrants and drugs into the United States.
Canada responded by unveiling a C$1.3 billion (US$909 million) border security plan, with an emphasis on surveillance, intelligence and technology.
Retiring Cabinet ministers will focus on boosting cross-border trade, strengthening supply chains and creating jobs in both the United States and Canada, Trudeau said.
Trudeau, who last week announced plans to resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party, will remain in charge of the Canadian government’s relations with the Trump administration until his party elects a new leader in March.
(Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
