Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and members of the United States Congress on the sidelines of the America Summit in Los Angeles.
The Prime Minister, the President and members of Congress reaffirmed the special nature of the bilateral relationship between our two countries. They discussed the importance of joint efforts to build a secure supply chain, including a supply chain, for critical minerals in North America. The Prime Minister and the President emphasized that a healthy and vibrant trade and investment partnership is essential to the collective well-being and prosperity of all our citizens, and committed to strengthening this partnership. They exchanged views on various bilateral trade issues including tax credit for electric vehicles, tariff rate quota for dairy products and pressure on housing prices and affordability through the imposition of tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
Participants highlighted the unique nature of the security relationship between Canada and the United States, in particular the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the binational command of this last. The Prime Minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to modernizing NORAD and defending the North American continent.
Members of Congress highlighted the prime minister’s leadership on the gun control file, including the introduction of new legislation to strengthen gun control in Canada and protect Canadians from gun violence.
The Prime Minister, the President and members of Congress discussed the importance of taking additional action to address climate change, including pricing carbon pollution. The Prime Minister talked about the particular vulnerability of small island developing states to the devastating effects of climate change and the need to mitigate the crisis by ensuring a greener future and a transition to clean energy sources globally.
Discussions took place on key global and foreign policy issues, including the preservation and protection of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Prime Minister, the President and members of Congress commended the support extended by both countries to Ukraine and the strong unity between allies and partners of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The Prime Minister, the President and members of Congress discussed the important role of immigration in the history of our two countries and the need to ensure that diversity continues to be recognized as an asset. The prime minister has indicated that his government’s priority is to strengthen Canada’s immigration and refugee protection system.
The Prime Minister and the President said that they look forward to continuing their cooperation to ensure the well-being of the citizens of their countries.
