Senior participants of Canada’s cupboard held talks Friday with US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees to steer the departments of trade and the internal, as Ottawa works to carry off the specter of punishing price lists.

Canada’s newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and International Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s trade secretary nominee, who may even lead the rustic’s tariff and industry time table.

Internal secretary nominee Doug Burgum was once additionally on the assembly held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.

Leblanc’s spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who showed the individuals, described the talks as “sure and productive.”

Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent price lists on all Canadian imports when he is taking place of job subsequent month.

He has mentioned they are going to stay in position till Canada addresses the drift of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the USA.

Canadian High Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures will have to Trump apply thru on his pledge, elevating fears of a industry conflict.

Leblanc and Joly “defined the measures in Canada’s Border Plan and reiterated the shared dedication to reinforce border safety in addition to struggle the hurt led to by means of fentanyl to avoid wasting Canadian and American lives,” Comeau mentioned in a remark.

Canada’s Border Plan — estimated to price CAN$1 billion ($694 million) — was once crafted as a part of Ottawa’s reaction to Trump’s issues.

Lutnick and Burgum “agreed to relay knowledge to President Trump,” the remark mentioned.

Trudeau is dealing with his worst political disaster since sweeping into place of job in 2015.

Leblanc was once named finance minister previous this month after the wonder resignation of Chrystia Freeland.

In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to citizens as an alternative of making ready Canada’s price range for a conceivable industry conflict.

Greater than 75 % of Canadian exports move to the USA and just about two million Canadian jobs rely on industry.