Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed hundreds of people Friday to a summit about bolstering the economy in the face of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 rapidly changing relationship with its largest trading partner.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we need to do two things in this. We need to both start thinking tactically and strategically,香蕉视频直播� Trudeau said.

Tactically, he said, Canadians need to be deliberate about how to work with the United States to avoid tariffs. But if the tariffs go ahead, he said, the country needs to be ready to respond and to support Canadians.

U.S. President Donald Trump香蕉视频直播檚 plan to impose sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, with a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy, has been put on hold until March 4.

Trump said in a social media post that the next month will determine 香蕉视频直播渨hether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured.香蕉视频直播�

His administration also has ordered a study of the United States香蕉视频直播� trading relationship with Canada, due by April 1.

The looming tariff threat and the volatility of the Trump administration have many business and labour leaders urging the federal government to look for other trading partners and ways to strengthen internal trade.

Trudeau said that香蕉视频直播檚 part of the strategic thinking needed to make the economy resilient.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 about time we have genuine free trade in Canada,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding that trade with the U.S. and the rest of the world is also essential.

The summit is being hosted by the government香蕉视频直播檚 newly created advisory council on Canada-U.S. relations, and includes business and labour leaders, Indigenous leaders and public policy experts. Several federal cabinet ministers are also attending.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 love to have hundreds of people on the council and that香蕉视频直播檚 exactly what this morning is all about,香蕉视频直播� Trudeau said.

The summit is set to begin with a question-and-answer session with Trudeau and the advisory council before it moves into group discussions.

Flavio Volpe, a member of the advisory council and president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, said Thursday he hopes the summit is just the start of something bigger.

He said Canada is facing 香蕉视频直播渢he most serious industrial threat we香蕉视频直播檝e ever faced香蕉视频直播� and the moment calls for a collective effort similar to what happened in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important that this isn香蕉视频直播檛 a photo op, that this isn香蕉视频直播檛 a talking-to session, that this isn香蕉视频直播檛 the only time we get together,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Speaking to reporters before the summit on Friday, Volpe said he香蕉视频直播檚 encouraged by the fact that the group is 香蕉视频直播渧ery cross-partisan.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a very diverse group of leaders from different industries across the country that almost have nothing to do with each other, other than the currency that they trade in and the country that they live in,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Representatives from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Global Automakers of Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Canadian Manufacturing and Exporters are in attendance, as is National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak.

Drew Dilkins, the mayor of Windsor, Ont., said this kind of meeting can help ensure different levels of government and the private sector are 香蕉视频直播渞owing in the same direction.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淎ligning on the facts is really important because what香蕉视频直播檚 missing in this whole conversation, at least from my perspective on the U.S. side, is fact,香蕉视频直播� he said.

He and other border community mayors established the Border Mayors Alliance to advocate on behalf of the cities that have the most to lose from U.S. tariffs. He said that kind of grassroots action only works if everyone understands the approach.

Dilkins took part in a meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities香蕉视频直播� Big City Mayors Caucus in Ottawa on Thursday, where tariffs and trade with the U.S. were the only topics.

Dennis Darby, president and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, said he intends to tell the government that if tariffs are imposed, businesses and workers will need help in the form of direct government relief, tax relief or wage subsidies.

Beyond that, he said, there are 香蕉视频直播渟tructural problems within the Canadian economy that need to be addressed.香蕉视频直播�

They include the need to make it easier to move goods between provinces 香蕉视频直播� trade that is undermined by a complicated regulatory environment 香蕉视频直播� and to ensure Canada takes better advantage of its trade deals with other countries.