Canada’s premiers are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step up border security and defense spending to assuage US President-elect Donald Trump’s concerns, with the leader of the largest province calling the federal government “slow to react” and “stuck on its back foot.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers will meet Wednesday to discuss strategy as president-elect Donald Trump threatens to upend the bilateral relationship with punitive tariffs on everything Canada sends to the U.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said Canada must stay united against a threat by Donald Trump to impose tariffs but two major provinces quickly called on him to address the U.S. President-elect's concerns.