Edition: International | Greek
MENU

Home » World

Canada announces new border rules following Trump tariff threat

Canada has promised to implement a set of sweeping new security measures along the country’s US border

By: EBR - Posted: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

The measures "will secure our border against the flow of illegal drugs and irregular migration while ensuring the free flow of people and goods that are at the core of North America’s prosperity", Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Tuesday.
The measures "will secure our border against the flow of illegal drugs and irregular migration while ensuring the free flow of people and goods that are at the core of North America’s prosperity", Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Tuesday.

by Holly Honderich

Canada has promised to implement a set of sweeping new security measures along the country’s US border, including strengthened surveillance and a joint "strike force" to target transnational organised crime.

The pledge follows a threat from President-elect Donald Trump to impose, when he takes office in January, a 25% tariff on Canadian goods if the country does not secure its shared border to the flow of irregular migrants and illegal drugs.

Economists say such tariffs could strike a blow to Canada’s economy.

Announcing details of the plan, Canada’s minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs said the federal government would devote C$1.3bn ($900m; £700bn) to the plan.

The measures "will secure our border against the flow of illegal drugs and irregular migration while ensuring the free flow of people and goods that are at the core of North America’s prosperity", Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Tuesday.

The five pillars of the plan cover the disruption of the fentanyl trade, new tools for law enforcement, enhanced coordination with US law enforcement, increased information sharing and limiting traffic at the border.

They include a proposed aerial surveillance task force, including helicopters, drones and mobile surveillance towers between ports of entry.

The government is also giving the Canada Border Service Agency funds to train new dog teams to find illegal drugs, and new detection tools for high-risk ports of entry.

And LeBlanc provided further detail on the so-called "joint strike force" for Canadian and US authorities, saying it would include "support in operational surges, dedicated synthetic drug units, expanded combined forces, special enforcement units, binational integrated enforcement teams, and new operational capacity and infrastructure".

The new plan appears to correspond to the concerns publicly disclosed by Trump in recent weeks: the flow of fentanyl and undocumented immigrants into the US.

The number of crossings at the US-Canada border is significantly lower than at the southern border, according to US Border Patrol data on migrant encounters, as is the amount of fentanyl seized.

Mexico is also facing a 25% tariff threat.

LeBlanc said he and other officials had a "preliminary" conversation with Trump’s incoming "border tsar" Tom Homan about the new plan.

"I’m in encouraged by that conversation," he said.

LeBlanc was present at a meeting last month between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, a trip reportedly meant to head-off the levy.

The announcement comes on LeBlanc’s first day as Canada’s finance minister.

The longtime ally to Trudeau was hastily sworn in on Monday after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland, who served as both finance minister and deputy prime minister.

Freeland quit her posts with a scathing open letter to Trudeau in which she outlined disagreements she had with him on spending and "the best path forward for Canada".

Her abrupt exit from cabinet has put additional strain on Trudeau’s weakened minority government.

On Tuesday, in a speech to party faithful at a Liberal holiday event, a defiant Trudeau said there are "always tough days and big challenges" in politics.

"But this team doesn’t hold the record for the longest minority in Canadian history because we shy away from these moments, we put in the work, whether it’s easy or hard."

*first published in: Bbc.com

READ ALSO

EU Actually

The digital euro is coming and that’s bad news

N. Peter KramerBy: N. Peter Kramer

ECB President Christine Lagarde announced that EU legislation must be finalised in October to make sure nothing is standing in the way of the digital euro

View 04/2021 2021 Digital edition

Magazine

Current Issue

04/2021 2021

View past issues
Subscribe
Advertise
Digital edition

Europe

The problems with European Security Guarantees for Ukraine

The problems with European Security Guarantees for Ukraine

The coalition of the willing has raised unrealistic expectations about its support for Ukraine, setting itself up for failure. To build a credible deterrent and contain Russia, Europeans and partners must revise their approach and help Trump strengthen his negotiating position

Business

Why the best companies don’t just innovate – they reinvent how they manage

Why the best companies don’t just innovate – they reinvent how they manage

In 2005, Chinese home appliances giant Haier faced a defining moment

MARKET INDICES

Powered by Investing.com
All contents © Copyright EMG Strategic Consulting Ltd. 1997-2025. All Rights Reserved   |   Home Page  |   Disclaimer  |   Website by Theratron