The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is visiting Philadelphia today. This is his first trip south of the border since his government launched a new “Team Canada” charm offensive in the US.
He is now in Pennsylvania because he accepted an invitation to speak at the Service Employees International Union convention.
However, five months ago, Trudeau sent his industry and international trade ministers to work with American business leaders, labour unions, and state and municipal governments to create a new trade strategy.
The plan is happening as Americans are getting ready for a very important presidential election in both countries.
Donald Trump may come back to the White House, which makes us remember the challenging relationship between the US and other countries when he was in office before.
He said he will put a 10 per cent tax on imported goods if he is elected again.
In January, Trudeau said that Canada doesn’t want President Trump to be re-elected for a second term.
“He said in Montreal that it was hard the first time and it will be hard again if there’s a second time. ”
In the same speech, he said he met with a lot of US state governors during Trump’s time as president to tell them how important Canada is to them.
One week later, he introduced the updated “Team Canada strategy for dealing with the United States. ”
Trudeau is going to Philadelphia for one day. He will meet with Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro, who is a popular member of the Democratic Party and may run for president in 2028.
It’s like what Canada did during the time Trump was president. They didn’t want to argue with him directly, so they talked to businesses and state governments instead.
During President Joe Biden’s time in office, the relationship between two countries has been more friendly, but still had some problems.
Canada and the US are working closely together to develop new technology for clean energy, like electric cars and their parts.
At first, Biden planned to give a big tax credit for electric cars made in America. Canada tried really hard and convinced the US to include cars made in North America before they finished the deal.
Canada is the largest player in the US economy, making up almost one-fifth of all things that the US sells to other countries. Mexico makes up about one out of every six of something, while China makes up less than one out of every ten.
The US is a very important market for Canadian exports. In 2023, 77 percent of all Canadian exports, which is almost $600 billion, went to the US.
China is in second place with $30 billion, which is four percent of all exports.
Canada spent $30 billion on electric cars in the last two years and is becoming a major place for making electric car batteries in North America. But a lot of those batteries are going to be used in electric cars that will be finished and sold in the US.
The US wants to get minerals from Canada for making clean technology like renewable energy and batteries.
Any changes to the taxes on imports could have a really bad impact on that plan.
Trudeau will also meet with important political and business people during his short visit.