Trudeau, Trump confident on passage of USMCA

World Today

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Washington. He met with President Trump at the the White House.

Iran and China were discussed, but trade, especially the newly updated U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal, was high on the agenda.

CGTN’s Jim Spellman reports.

The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been rocky at times, but it was all smiles at the White House Thursday. The two leaders met with a shared priority: Passage of the USMCA – the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal meant to replace NAFTA.

“It’s an opportunity to keep talking about how we worked hard to build a great trade deal. It’s good for Canadian workers. It’s good for American workers. It’s good for Mexican workers. We are moving forward on the ratification process aligned with you,” Trudeau said.

Mexico’s Senate passed the USMCA on Wednesday, but their northern neighbors have not. The deal faces political hurdles in Washington and Ottawa, but Trump and Trudeau said they are confident they can get the agreement through their legislatures.

“This brings us into a position where we’re not competing with each other. We’re competing against the world, and that’s what we’re doing we’re competing against big sections of the world, including Asia,” Trump said.

The White House meeting comes as Canada is caught up in the U.S.- China trade war. China wants Canada to release Meng Wanzhou, the Huawei C.F.O. being held under house arrest in Vancouver, who’s facing extradition to the U.S. on fraud charges. Canada wants China to release two Canadians charged with stealing state secrets. Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade next week at the G-20 summit in Japan. Trudeau wants a meeting as well and Trump says if that doesn’t happen he will speak to Xi on Trudeau’s behalf.

“Anything I can do to help Canada I will be doing.” Trump said.