Canada has emphasized its critical role in the relationship with the United States. This comes shortly after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to impose high import tariffs on all goods from Canada once he returns to the White House in January.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc reiterated the strong and enduring ties between the two nations, particularly in trade and border security.

“Canada and the United States share one of the closest and most important relationships, especially regarding trade and border security,” they stated. “Canada prioritizes border security and the integrity of our shared border.”

The ministers highlighted Canada’s vital contribution to U.S. energy needs, noting that 60 percent of U.S. crude oil imports came from Canada last year.

The statement also pointed to ongoing collaboration between Canadian and U.S. law enforcement to combat the fentanyl crisis, much of which originates from China and other countries.

While expressing a commitment to continued discussions with the incoming administration, the ministers did not directly address Trump’s earlier comments. On Truth Social, Trump announced he would sign an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, citing concerns over crime and drugs associated with immigration across the two borders.