The shadow of Donald Trump's return to the White House is increasingly looming over Trudeau's government. On the second day of his government's closed retreat in Montreal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday the formation of a team of experts to defend Canada's interests following the American presidential elections next November.

This Canadian team, led by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, and the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Mary Ng, will work specifically to defend Canadian interests and strengthen bilateral agreements between Ottawa and Washington.

Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, will also lead this group composed of experts, business leaders, workers, universities, as well as regional and local partners to enhance relations with the United States in various fields.

The shadow of Donald Trump

When asked about the possibility of Donald Trump’s re-election, Trudeau mentioned that the country must prepare for any possibility, but he wanted to remind of his government's effectiveness when it defended itself against the repeated attacks by the former American president regarding economic issues.

The Prime Minister also affirmed that there is no American president who is easy for a Canadian prime minister due to the weight that the United States carries in discussions between the two countries.

The Canadian Prime Minister made similar statements last Wednesday alongside Michel Leblanc, President of the Metropolitan Montreal Chamber of Commerce, the day after Mr. Trump’s sweeping victory at the electoral convention in Iowa. He did not hide that it was not easy with him the first time, and that if there is a second time it will not be easy either.

The advantage of expertise

This is not the first time the Liberal team finds itself in a state of uncertainty related to the American elections. In a closed meeting of the Liberal government in 2016, the predecessor of Ms. Hillman was also invited to lay the foundation for relations between the two countries before the elections, which favored Hillary Clinton at that time.

However, after eight years, recent polls show that candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump are close, despite all the problems dragged by the Republican leader. The ambassador does not want to be surprised this time.