To avoid 25% Trump tariff, Canada announces new border security rules

Canada has promised to implement a slew of new border security rules along its border with the US to avoid President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods if the country does not secure its shared boundary to the flow of irregular migrants and illegal drugs.

A border security plan with an emphasis on surveillance, intelligence and technology has also been privately presented to Trump’s incoming administration, four Canadian ministers said on Tuesday.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, told reporters that the Canadian ministers had an “encouraging” meeting with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.

“I went through with Mr. Homan the information that we’re sharing with you today… I’m encouraged by that conversation and by conversations I’ve had with the incoming Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick,” LeBlanc said.

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LeBlanc was also present at a meeting between Trudeau and Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. The reportedly was meant to head-off the levy.

Canada will invest C$1.3 billion towards border security

Economists and experts say the 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods could strike a blow to the country’s economy.

Possibly considering the drawbacks, the embattled minority government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it will invest C$1.3 billion (around $909 million) toward border security over six years.

LeBlanc said 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.”

What is Canada’s new border security plan?

The five pillars of Canada’s new 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 which would include helicopters, drones and mobile surveillance towers between ports of entry.

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

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LeBlanc, meanwhile, said the “joint strike force” 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.”

According to a report by Reuters, US authorities apprehended more than 23,000 people near the US-Canada border in the 12 months ending in October, more than double the previous year but a tiny fraction of the 1.5 million people apprehended near the US-Mexico border during that time.

Meanwhile, Canadian police in its defence have said that they have installed more cameras and sensors over the most-traversed section of the border over the past four years.

With inputs from agencies.