Newly launched paperwork present that within the days following the U.S. election, Canada favoured “cooperation” with the second Trump administration on “frequent challenges” associated to illegal immigration earlier than the U.S. threatened sweeping tariffs.
However following his victory, it appeared U.S. President Donald Trump had little curiosity in collaboration, selecting as an alternative to publicly assault the U.S.’s closest ally and threaten its northern neighbour with financial collapse.
Briefing notes, obtained by International Information, via entry to info legal guidelines, present Ottawa’s place on unlawful immigration proper after Trump’s Nov. 5 election win was “rooted in cooperating with like-minded companions, significantly the U.S. via agreements … to implement border legal guidelines and share info to detect threats early and guarantee coordinated responses.”
Fen Hampson, a Carleton College professor and president of the World Refugee and Migration Council, stated Canadian and American border safety has been “tightly built-in” for the reason that Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist assaults, and that Trump is making an attempt to “create his personal political narrative” by stating, inaccurately, the challenges on the northern and southern borders are the identical.
“[It’s] fairly clear that when Donald Trump was elected to the presidency, he actually didn’t have a lot curiosity both in figuring out what’s occurring between our two international locations,” he stated.
The paperwork are dated Nov. 13 and Nov. 15, simply days after the U.S. election on Nov. 5 and roughly every week earlier than the then-incoming U.S. president fired the primary volley in his commerce conflict towards Canada with a put up on Reality Social.
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“I’ll signal all vital paperwork to cost Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL merchandise coming into the US, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” wrote Trump on Nov. 25.
Since then, it’s been a chaotic 4 months, with repeated threats, shifting deadlines, and last-minute concessions.
On April 2 — a day Trump dubbed “Liberation Day” — Canada averted additional “reciprocal” tariffs that Trump is imposing on international locations all over the world.
However Canada nonetheless faces the 25 per cent tariffs imposed firstly of March, in addition to the 25 per cent levies on metal, aluminum and automobiles, which might devastate these industries.
The White Home has stated if the sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian items are eliminated, then Canada would face a 12 per cent “reciprocal” tariff fee.
Trump has repeatedly pointed to the circulate of fentanyl and unlawful immigration coming over the northern border as justification.
“A few of Trump’s personal officers have stated the issue is with Mexico and with China, it’s not with Canada. So Trump clearly had a bone to select with Canada,” stated Hampson.
The paperwork obtained by International Information — from shortly earlier than the “pre-tariff period” — spotlight a number of examples of cross-border cooperation on the problems.
“Canada collaborates extensively with the U.S., specializing in info sharing, built-in border administration, embedding officers in one another’s organizations,” learn speaking factors ready for Public Security Minister David McGuinty.
A longstanding ‘irritant’
Considerations about migrants crossing illegally into the U.S. from Canada predate Trump.
The Biden administration additionally thought of the difficulty an “irritant.”
In line with the newly launched paperwork, Ottawa had “taken motion” to deal with a few of these frustrations, together with reimposing the visa requirement for Mexican nationals.
The briefing notes additionally present Canada had its personal issues associated to Trump’s return to the White Home in regards to the potential ripple impact of his immigration crackdown.
“The incoming U.S. administration will make border safety and immigration reform a precedence, specializing in immigration enforcement, together with mass deportation of unlawful migrants,” the paperwork present.
“Provinces are involved in regards to the impacts … on their respective jurisdictions.”
Earlier than former prime minister Justin Trudeau stepped down, he appointed a fentanyl czar and spent $1.3 billion boosting border safety.
However these measures didn’t deter Trump from slapping Canada with damaging tariffs.
Regardless of Trump’s repeated claims that “huge” quantities of the drug are pouring over the northern border, Canada was not talked about a single time in an annual report launched final week on the risk evaluation of fentanyl within the U.S.
Numbers from U.S. Customs and Border Safety present lower than one per cent of fentanyl and unlawful immigration coming into the U.S. comes from Canada.
“Donald Trump is resistant to info,” stated Hampson.
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