Trudeau meets Trump with talk of trade, China and the Raptors

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has had his time at the White House with President Donald Trump, with promises of help on China, but no concrete plan for the new free trade agreement to be ratified this summer.

Trump welcomed Trudeau by saying he wants to have a “positive day.” Trudeau replied by praising the new NAFTA and saying the two want to work together on “a broad range of global issues.”

As the two sat down in the Oval Office in front of reporters, Trump promised to use an upcoming face-to-face with China’s president to push for the release of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Both men have been languishing behind bars in China since shortly after Canada arrested high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou late last year at the request of U.S. authorities.

“I would, at Justin’s request, I will absolutely,” said Trump, when asked by a reporter if he would raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping at next week’s G20 leaders’ summit in Japan. “Anything I can do to help Canada, I will be doing.”

Canada has been caught in the crossfire since detaining Meng last December in Vancouver, where she awaits extradition south of the border to face allegations of fraud in violating Iran sanctions.

 

But Trudeau’s visit is aimed primarily at pushing the new NAFTA deal, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), over the finish line in both countries.

“Keep talking about how we worked hard to build a great trade deal that’s good for Canadian workers, good for American workers,” said Trudeau.

Trump needs to persuade his Democratic opponents in the House of Representatives — in particular Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with whom Trudeau is scheduled to meet later in the day — to allow the actual start of the ratification of the USMCA. Lawmakers in Mexico voted Wednesday to ratify the deal.

And with news Iran has shot down a US drone, that’s also top of mind. “Very concerned about the escalation by Iran recently, we have significant presence in the area,” said Trudeau.

The meeting in front of reporters also prompted some talk about the Raptors’ NBA Championship win.

“They planned phenomenal basketball, I watched a little bit of it,” said Trump.

When asked if he’ll invite the team to the White House Trump says he’ll think about it. The Prime Minister has already invited the team to parliament hill.

Trudeau will end the trip speaking with reporters at the Canadian embassy before flying back to Ottawa. The visit to the Oval Office is Trudeau’s third since Trump was elected in 2016.

Trudeau was on a whirlwind tour of Washington, D.C., Thursday, with a schedule that included visits with House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell.

– With files from the Canadian Press

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