Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and President of the United States Donald Trump participate in a signing ceremony for the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement with President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto (not shown) in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

China and trade to top agenda of Trudeau-Trump meeting

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his visit to Washington tomorrow to meet with President Donald Trump will be an opportunity to discuss ongoing tensions with China, international trade and various global issues ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in Japan.

Speaking before a meeting with his Liberal caucus on Wednesday, Trudeau said he expects to discuss with Trump the “challenge China poses to the global trading system” and to the economies of both countries.

In addition, ahead of the G20 Osaka Summit, which kicks off on June 28, Trudeau and Trump will discuss China’s detention of two Canadian citizens.

Former diplomat Michael Kovring and entrepreneur Michael Spavor were detained separately by Chinese authorities on Dec. 10, days after Canadian officials arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, at the request of U.S. authorities.

Beijing’s arrest of Kovrig and Spavor has been seen as retaliation for Canada’s detention of Meng.

Kovrig and Spavor have been accused of acting together to steal state secrets and could be sentenced to death if convicted.

Ottawa is seeking help from its allies, particularly the U.S., in its diplomatic showdown with Beijing.

Trudeau also said the new North American free trade agreement will be a big part of the meeting with Trump.

“There will be a big conversation about the path to ratification of the new NAFTA and we’re going to make sure that we’re keeping in step with them,” Trudeau said.

“We have an ability to recall Parliament if we need to,” Trudeau said, adding that the federal government will closely monitor the pace of the ratification of the newly renegotiated free trade deal between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

They signed a renewed North American free trade pact on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires last November.

Once ratified by the legislatures in all three countries, the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.

Categories: International, Politics
Tags: , , , , ,

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.