Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday that Canada is prepared to enhance its border security efforts in response to ongoing concerns raised by President-elect Donald Trump.

Trudeau made the remarks during an interview on CNN’s The Lead With Jake Tapper, where he emphasized the importance of border management and trade relations between the two nations.

Trudeau acknowledged that while Canada has been a reliable partner in North American trade and security, there is room for improvement in managing its border with the United States.

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His comments come at a time of heightened tensions, with Trump threatening to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian exports, citing border concerns.

“The conversation on tariffs started around border concerns, and what I spoke with him about in Mar-a-Lago was the fact that less than 1% of migrants into the United States, less than 1% of fentanyl into the United States, comes from Canada. But there are absolutely more things we can do,” Trudeau told Tapper.

He framed stronger border controls as beneficial not only for addressing U.S. concerns but also for improving North American competitiveness in global markets.

“That’s a clear win for President Trump, to do even more to reduce even further the minimal amounts coming in,” Trudeau said.

“On trade, there’s more that we can do, but we should be focused on making sure that we’re replacing Chinese lithium or Chinese germanium or Russian titanium into American productions by relying on your closest and friendliest trading partner in Canada.”

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Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows a notable increase in activity along the northern border.

Nearly 24,000 individuals were apprehended crossing the border in fiscal year 2024, marking an approximate 140% increase from the previous year.

This surge has highlighted vulnerabilities that both nations are working to address.

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To manage potential immigration surges following Trump’s election, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which oversees border security, has announced plans to strengthen its operations.

These measures include recruiting additional personnel, acquiring more vehicles, and constructing new processing facilities.

Trudeau also underscored the strategic importance of Canada-U.S. trade relations, particularly in reducing dependence on adversarial nations such as China and Russia for critical materials.

“We can be a strong supplier of things that the U.S. needs to compete around the world because we can do it together. That’s the argument that I’m making,” he said.

Canada’s role as a supplier of key resources like lithium and titanium could bolster U.S. manufacturing and reduce reliance on Chinese and Russian imports.

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Trudeau positioned this collaborative approach as a way to strengthen North American economic security.

Trudeau’s willingness to strengthen border controls and trade partnerships reflects a pragmatic response to the challenges posed by Trump’s forthcoming presidency.

By addressing border security concerns and emphasizing Canada’s value as a trade partner, Trudeau aims to preserve the strong economic ties between the two nations while fostering greater collaboration on shared priorities.

As both countries navigate these issues, the steps taken in the coming months could significantly impact North American trade, security, and immigration policies.