During the transition period of President-elect Donald Trump, international relations took center stage as officials from Guatemala and Canada engaged with the incoming administration to discuss pressing policies on immigration and trade.
Guatemalan government officials have expressed their willingness to establish constructive dialogues with Trump’s team, primarily concerning the president-elect’s vow to massively deport undocumented immigrants. Reports from Reuters indicate the Guatemalans are open to receiving migrants from other Central American countries who may be affected by such deportations. Notably, no formal agreement has yet materialized between the two nations.
According to one anonymous Guatemalan official, “There has to be a regional response and we want to be part of the solution.” This sentiment reflects the country’s readiness to collaborate with the U.S. as it navigates the complex dynamics of immigration and border security policies. Currently, the U.S. encounters notable challenges when deporting citizens from nations with strained diplomatic relations, such as Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti. Meanwhile, countries like the Bahamas and Mexico are also reluctant to accept third-country deportees.
Discussions are underway with the Trump transition team, yet officials from Guatemala's security and migration sectors have yet to meet with U.S. counterparts to hash out specifics on his intended deportation strategy. Earlier this year, Guatemala's key players met with Senator Marco Rubio and other Republican leaders to explore issues surrounding drug trafficking and immigration, reinforcing Guatemala’s desire to maintain strong ties with its neighbor to the north.
Meanwhile, Canada’s approach exhibited its eagerness to avoid the hefty tariffs Trump has threatened to introduce. Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, at Mar-a-Lago as part of their efforts to manage trade relations. Trump has proposed imposing 25% tariffs on all Canadian products, ostensibly leveraging concerns about the flow of migrants and fentanyl across the border, even though statistics show the actual inflow is significantly less compared to the southern border.
LeBlanc’s spokesperson, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, characterized their meeting as “positive” and “productive,” emphasizing Canada’s billion-dollar plan aimed at tightening border security. The ministers reiterated their shared commitment to combatting the flow of fentanyl, which has led to numerous overdose deaths across North America. The drug seizures at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year were reported at only 43 pounds, starkly contrasted with 21,100 pounds confiscated at the border with Mexico.
Discussions surrounding trade remain contentious, with U.S. officials focused on what they perceive as their trade deficit with Canada, which was cited as being $75 billion last year. Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, highlighted Canada’s pivotal role as the largest exporter to the U.S. for more than 36 states, showcasing the intertwined economic relationship.
On the diplomatic front, Trudeau has engaged with the situation subtly. He recently shared a YouTube link to Tom Brokaw’s 2010 commentary on the longstanding Canada-U.S. relationship, reinforcing their historical and economic ties. This outreach could serve as both acknowledgment and reminder of the importance of this connection as new tariffs loom on the horizon.
Simultaneously, Trump directed attention to another significant issue as he requested the Supreme Court to postpone any potential ban on TikTok, the widely popular Chinese-owned social media app. His administration aims to negotiate rather than implement outright bans, indicating another layer of negotiation at play within the transition.
Overall, the early days of the Trump administration's transition signal significant changes on the horizon, as various nations navigate their positions with their American counterparts. With strong emphasis on immigration policies, trade relations, and the digital economy, these early policy discussions set the stage for the complex challenges and opportunities awaiting the new administration.
