Trump and Trudeau Talk for 50 Minutes... Discuss Tariffs and Fentanyl Issues

Trump Says "Fentanyl Crackdown Not Enough"
Also Plans Call with Mexican President Sheinbaum

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the 5th (local time) to discuss tariffs and the crackdown on the opioid painkiller fentanyl. Amid indications from the U.S. side that a tariff relief plan, including a one-month delay on auto tariffs, would be announced that afternoon, the two countries plan to continue talks to resolve the tariff conflict.

AP Yonhap News

President Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social, which he created, "Canada's Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister) asked what could be done about tariffs," adding, "I told him that fentanyl was coming across the Canada-Mexico border and many people were dying, and there was nothing to be confident that this had stopped." He further said, "He (Prime Minister Trudeau) said the situation had improved, but I said 'not enough.'"

He said, "I told Canada's Justin Trudeau that most of the problems we are experiencing with them stem from his weak border policies," adding, "Those policies allowed a large influx of fentanyl and illegal aliens into the United States." He criticized, "These policies are responsible for many deaths."

Trump also directly accused Prime Minister Trudeau of trying to maintain power by using the recent tariff conflict as a pretext. President Trump wrote, "I wondered what was going on because he wouldn't tell me when the Canadian election was," adding, "I realized he is using this (tariff) issue to hold onto power. Good luck to Justin!"

Members of the Liberal Party, to which Prime Minister Trudeau belongs, will decide the party leader who will succeed Trudeau, who announced his intention to resign, through a vote on the 9th. The Liberal Party's approval ratings have recently risen due to President Trump's tariff attacks, which is interpreted as a sarcastic remark.

However, President Trump said the call with Prime Minister Trudeau "ended in a somewhat friendly atmosphere."

The call between President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau lasted 50 minutes. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Vice President J.D. Vance also participated in the call.

The two countries plan to continue discussions on tariff issues that afternoon. Earlier, the U.S. reimposed the 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which had been delayed for a month, starting at midnight on the 4th. Regarding China, the U.S. raised the additional tariff rate to a total of 20%, adding another 10% on top of the 10% additional tariff imposed last month on the 4th.

According to Bloomberg News, President Trump is considering a plan to delay the 25% tariff on the automotive sector from Canada and Mexico for one month. Secretary Ross said in an interview with Bloomberg News that a tariff relief plan including this could be announced.

President Trump is also scheduled to speak with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum later that afternoon.