He praises ‘enduring partnership’ between Canadians and Americans
OTTAWA (CCN)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed Canada’s close ties with the United States on trade and security in his message of congratulations to President Donald Trump Jan. 20.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my congratulations to Donald J. Trump on his inauguration as 45th President of the United States of America,” said Trudeau in a statement. “Canada and the United States have built one of the closest relationships between any two countries in the world. This enduring partnership is essential to our shared prosperity and security.”
“Together, we benefit from robust trade and investment ties, and integrated economies, that support millions of Canadian and American jobs,” he said. “We both want to build economies where the middle class, and those working hard to join it, have a fair shot at success.”
These close trade ties might come under some stress under the new American administration.
During his presidential campaign, Trump called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) the “worst trade deal in history” and said he would renegotiate it.
In his inaugural address, Trump stressed his campaign promise of putting America first, signaling his commitment to more protectionist trade policies. He also said he intended to “make America safe again.” One campaign promise concerned tighter control over America’s borders, particularly that with Mexico.
“Canada and the United States have unparalleled cooperation on matters of national security, and have always worked side by side to protect our citizens and ensure our shared border is secure,” Trudeau said.
“We look forward to working with President Trump, the U.S. Administration, the 115th Congress, and officials at the state and local levels to restore prosperity to the middle class on both sides of the border, and to create a safer and more peaceful world.”
