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Category: Government and Politics / World Politics / Donald Trump / Trade

Trump and Trudeau talk free trade, refugees in first meeting

Tuesday, 14 Feb 2017 04:17:29 | Conor Duffy

The two leaders shook hands for the press at their news conference where the two emphasised their countries' shared goals. (AP: Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have vowed to push ahead with closer trade ties and downplayed their differences over refugees.

Key points:

  • Justin Trudeau seeks to avoid tensions over issues such as immigration on which he is sharply at odds with Donald Trump
  • Three quarters of Canada's exports go to the US, making trade ties crucial for its economy
  • Trump and Trudeau discuss 'women in the workforce'

The neighbouring leaders — polar opposites in nearly every way — took up the thorny subjects of trade and immigration at their first face-to-face meeting at the White House.

Mr Trump praised the "outstanding" trade relationship between the United States and Canada, saying he would only be "tweaking" it going forward.

Mr Trudeau took the comments positively. He came to the United States seeking to ensure Canada was not crippled as Mr Trump renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada. We'll be tweaking it," Mr Trump said of the trade relationship.

"We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries.

"It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border."

Mr Trump was at Dulles airport to greet Mr Trudeau on arrival, after heavy winds forced the Prime Minister's plane to be diverted from Andrews Air Force Base.

Mr Trump greeted the Canadian Prime Minister with a handshake as he arrived at the White House before they posed silently before reporters, until Mr Trump suggested they shake hands for the cameras.

Mr Trudeau brought a personal gift — a photo of Mr Trump with Mr Trudeau's father, the late Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

Mr Trump said he knew and respected Mr Trudeau and would keep the photo in a "very special place".

At a joint news conference after their meetings, the two emphasised their shared goals with Mr Trump pledging to work with Canada "in pursuit of our many shared interests".

Mr Trudeau spoke of a special bond and the "deep abiding respect" between the two countries, though he also said that "relationships between neighbours are pretty complex".

While the two leaders stressed shared interests, their contrasting views were also on display.

Mr Trump defended his refugee and immigration orders, saying "we cannot let the wrong people in", while Mr Trudeau said Canada was continuing to "pursue our policies of openness".

Mr Trudeau acknowledged the two countries "have differed in our approaches", but "the last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they chose to govern themselves".

Good relations between the two nations are crucial as more than 75 per cent of Canada's exports go to the US, while 18 per cent of US exports go to Canada.

There are fears among Canadians that they could be hurt as Mr Trump targets Mexico in a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Women entrepreneurs to get a boost

Women in business on the agenda in Trudeau's first official talks with Trump. Photo: Justin Trudeau and Ivanka Trump listen during a meeting with women business leaders at the White House. (AP: Evan Vucci)

At a roundtable discussion with female executives from the United States and Canada, the two leaders announced a task force focused on women in the workforce.

Mr Trump said it was important to ensure the economy was a place where "women can work and thrive".

Mr Trudeau stressed that women have had to overcome barriers to succeed in business.

Ivanka Trump was in attendance at the meeting and helped recruit participants and set the agenda. The high-profile meeting is evidence of her rising policy influence.

Mr Trudeau's close cooperation with Mr Trump and the first daughter on women in business could ease some worries among Canadians that the US President will enact protectionist measures that could hurt the Canadian economy.

It could also alleviate some fears that Mr Trump will be as as he has been with the leaders of Mexico and Australia.

Trudeau, age 45, and Trump, age 70, have vastly different outlooks of the world.

Mr Trudeau is a liberal who champions free trade and has welcomed 40,000 Syrian refugees.

He calls himself a feminist and his Cabinet is 50 per cent women.

Mr Trump has few women in his Cabinet.

He has taken a protectionist stance on trade and wants to crack down on the inflow of migrants and refugees.

His order to temporarily halt entry into the US by people from seven predominantly Muslim nations, which is tied up in court, might come up during the bilateral meeting.

Trudeau proposes task force

A Canadian official said Mr Trudeau's administration had suggested the task force, because the Prime Minister considered the issue of working women an important part of his agenda and economic growth plan.

"It's a smart thing if Canada proposed this," said Nelson Wiseman, a professor at the University of Toronto.

"It takes attention off of NAFTA. And from Trump's point of view, it contributes to softening Trump's image, and he's got a problem with women."

Roland Paris, a former senior foreign policy to Mr Trudeau, said the Prime Minister needed to build a relationship with Mr Trump to ensure Canada is not shut out economically.

"The overriding priority will be for Canada to maintain secure and reliable access to the US market and the supply chains that crisscross the border," Mr Paris said.

Mr Trudeau has been preparing for the Trump meeting for months.

He will also meet with legislative leaders on Capitol Hill.

Canadian prime minister Justin visits the US for the first time since Donald Trump became president. Photo: Donald Trump meets with Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office. (AP: Evan Vucci)

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