President Trump’s top economic adviser described the administration’s relationship with Canada on Wednesday as “really good,” less than a week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed the U.S. for imposing “totally unacceptable” tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
“Canada will remain firm friends and allies [despite] whatever short-term disagreements may occur, so I would say relations are really good,” National Economic Council Chairman Larry Kudlow told reporters at a briefing on Trump’s upcoming visit to Quebec.
Trump will hold bilateral talks with Trudeau and other G7 allies later this week at a summit that some speculate could be awkward for the U.S. leader due to widespread complaints about his imposition of new tariffs. In addition to Canada, several European allies threatened retaliatory penalties against the U.S. after Trump withdrew their exemption from the tariffs last week.
“I think the bilateral meeting that is scheduled between the two (Trump and Trudeau) is a really good thing,” Kudlow said, adding that Trump has no reservations about attending the summit and is “at ease with these issues” on trade.
At a press conference last Thursday, Trudeau described Trump’s tariff actions against Canada as “an affront to the longstanding security partnership” between the two countries and “to the thousands of Canadians who have fought and died alongside their American brothers in arms.”
Kudlow told Fox News over the weekend that Trudeau was “overreacting,” claiming the tariffs were imposed due to national security concerns. “The point is, we have to protect ourselves.”
