Trudeau charms 'Team Canada' as he visits Philadelphia – Winnipeg Free Press

PHILADELPHIA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Philadelphia today for his first trip south of the border since his government launched a new “Team Canada” offensive in the United States.

Officially, after he accepted an invitation to speak at the North American Quadrennial Convention of the Employees International Union in Pennsylvania.

But the visit comes five months after Trudeau sent his industry and international trade ministers to lead a new trade strategy with American business leaders, unions and state and municipal governments.

The plan comes as Americans head into an important presidential election for both countries.

Donald Trump's potential return to the White House is reminiscent of the difficult bipartisanship during his first term.

If he wins a second term, he has promised to impose a flat 10 percent import tax on all countries.

In January, Trudeau admitted that a second Trump presidency was not on Canada's wish list.

“It wasn't easy the first time, and it won't be easy the second time,” he said in a speech in Montreal.

In the same speech, he noted that Trump spent a lot of time during his meetings with US state governors to remind them how dependent they are on Canada.

A week later, he launched an updated “Team Canada Strategy for Engagement with the United States.”

Trudeau's one-day trip to Philadelphia will include a meeting with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising star in the Democratic Party who is on a short list of people expected to run for president in 2028.

It's similar to the strategy used during Trump's presidency, with Ottawa avoiding taking on Trump directly as much as possible, instead looking to businesses and state governments that have been open to discussion.

The bilateral relationship under President Joe Biden has been amicable, if not without its own challenges.

Canada and the U.S. have taken steps to increase linkages in the electric vehicle supply chain, including a number of clean technology innovations, including essential minerals, electricity batteries and semiconductors.

But initially, Biden wanted to offer an EV tax credit that would only benefit American cars. Canada's comprehensive efforts convinced the U.S. to extend the credit to cars made in North America before it ends.

Canada is the single largest player in the US economy, accounting for one-fifth of total US exports. Mexico is about one-sixth and China about one-tenth.

But the U.S. is a far more dominant market for Canadian exports, accounting for 77 percent of Canadian exports in 2023, or about $600 billion.

China is second with $30 billion or four percent of total exports.

Canada has invested $30 billion in the electric vehicle sector in the past two years alone and is becoming North America's hub for EV battery manufacturing. But most of these batteries are designed for electric vehicles that are finished and sold in the US

The US also looks to Canada as a key supplier of essential minerals needed for many clean technologies, including renewable energy and batteries.

Any adjustment in import duties could have a devastating effect on this plan.

Trudeau also plans to meet with political and business leaders during his one-day visit.

This Canadian Press report was first published on May 21, 2024.