When asked whether he would intervene in the case of the two Canadians detained in China over the Huawei dispute, President Trump said, “Anything I can do to help China I will be doing.”
On Thursday, June 20th, Prime Minister of Canada Trudeau visited the Oval Office and had a working lunch with President Trump. Mr. Trump and Mr. Trudeau have had their share of friction in the past: via Twitter, the president has referred to Trudeau as “dishonest” and “weak,” and trade adviser Peter Navarro called the prime minister “bad-faith Justin Trudeau,” and said there was a “special place in hell” for people like him. Throughout their session with reporters, however, the two leaders appeared to be on the same page.
When asked whether he would intervene in the case of the two Canadians detained in China over the Huawei dispute, President Trump said, “Anything I can do to help China I will be doing.” The president also stated that he would bring the case up with President Xi during their meeting next week “at Justin’s request.”
USMCA
Regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), Mr. Trump expressed that the deal is “going to be very bipartisan. It’s great for the farmers, manufacturers. Great for everybody. And great for unions.”
Both leaders are looking to get the NAFTA replacement package ratified as soon as possible. Mexico has already ratified the agreement; now, it is up to the U.S. and Canada to do the same. If ratified, the USMCA will eliminate the Canadian program allowing low-priced dairy products to undersell those sold by American producers, among other measures.
However, congressional Democrats have criticized the package for its lack of labor standard enforcement as well as the environmental concerns it raises, stalling its passage through Congress.
The president acknowledged Democrats’ criticism of the deal, telling reporters: “we have to get the Democrats to approve it.” He maintained that he was confident that Democrats would come around to the deal, however. “I really do believe that Nancy Pelosi and the House, the Senate will approve it rapidly,” Mr. Trump said, adding that, ”I think Nancy Pelosi is going to do the right thing.”
Mr. Trudeau will be meeting with House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader McConnell later today to discuss the package further.