By Ryan Patrick Jones
(Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will hold a cabinet retreat on Jan. 20-21 focused on defending his country’s interests and boosting ties with the U.S., his office said in a statement on Tuesday.
The ministerial meeting in the province of Quebec will coincide with the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has recently vowed to impose tariffs on Canadian imports and mused about making Canada the 51st state.
“Cabinet will protect and defend Canadian interests, strengthen Canada’s relationship with the U.S., and make unequivocally clear the mutually beneficial trade and security relationship the two countries share,” Trudeau said in the statement.
Trump has threatened both Canada and Mexico with sweeping 25% tariffs if they do not stem the movement of migrants and drugs into the U.S.
Canada responded by unveiling a C$1.3 billion ($909 million) border security plan, with an emphasis on surveillance, intelligence and technology.
Cabinet ministers at the retreat will focus on bolstering cross-border trade, reinforcing supply chains, and creating jobs in both the U.S. and Canada, Trudeau said.
Trudeau, who announced plans last week to step down as prime minister and as leader of the Liberal Party, will remain in charge of the Canadian government’s relations with the Trump administration until his party chooses a new leader in March.
(Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones and David Ljunggren; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Paul Simao)
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