Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has been conferring with other world leaders on how best to engage with Donald Trump as he prepares for an upcoming visit with the unpredictable new president.
On Saturday, Trudeau spoke with Theresa May, the British prime minister. Along with accepting May’s condolences for the recent shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Trudeau also mined her for information on her recent visit to the White House, according to the Canadian Press.
Trump was also reportedly discussed in a Monday phone call between Trudeau and the French president, François Hollande.
On Tuesday, Kellyanne Conway told CNN that the Canadian prime minister would be visiting Trump next week. The assertion came after Conway, a senior adviser to Trump, was questioned as to why the president had not commented publicly on the Quebec City shooting. “I’m glad that the prime minister of Canada is coming here next week,” said Conway. “I’m sure they’ll talk about that, if he’s coming soon, as I understand.”
A spokesperson for Trudeau on Wednesday said a date for the visit had yet to be confirmed. The prime minister is expected to travel to France and Germany next week to address the European parliament and meet Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.
The prime minister and the new president seemingly have little in common; Trudeau is a self-described feminist who appointed his country’s first gender-balanced cabinet, while Trump’s campaign saw several women come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Trudeau has sought to champion trade deals such as Ceta (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, with the EU), while Trump has threatened to rip up the Nafta trade deal.
Recent days have seen several world leaders – led by France’s Hollande – mount a series of scathing attacks on the new president. Trudeau has taken a more subtle approach, avoiding any public criticism of Trump and instead using Twitter to highlight the differences in the positions being espoused by Washington and Ottawa.
After Trump signed an executive order introducing what he dubbed “extreme vetting” measures intended to “keep terrorists out”, Trudeau’s tweets offered a very different message.
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
Most point to Canada’s trade dependence on the US to explain Trudeau’s approach – 75% of Canada’s exports head south of the border, and officials in the country are bracing themselves for Trump’s vow to renegotiate Nafta. So far, senior advisers in the Trump team have suggested Canada will not be a target in the trade negotiations, leaving Canadian officials scrambling to contain any potential collateral damage.
Canada’s defence and finance ministers are in Washington this week to meet their counterparts. Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s foreign minister, met with Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, on Wednesday after meeting the US House speaker, Paul Ryan, and Senator John McCain earlier in the week.
