Trudeau, Trump to meet in Washington next week

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office confirmed Thursday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington next week.

On the agenda will be a discussion of the new North American free trade deal and the two Canadians held by China on espionage charges.

The USMCA (United States, Mexico and Canada new free trade deal) is mired in the U.S. Congress amid fighting between Republicans and Democrats. Meanwhile the North American Free Trade Agreement that USMCA is supposed to replace will remain in effect.

The other issue concerns Canada taking the flack for following an extradition treaty with the U.S.

Last December, Canada arrested Huawei senior executive Wanzhou Meng in Vancouver at the request of the U.S. government. The Americans want her on alleged charges that she violated sanctions by doing surreptitious business with Iran.

The arrest outraged the Chinese who called for her immediate release.

Canada said it was following the rule of law and refused. Meng is to face an extradition hearing in January and remains free on bail but is under house arrest.

The Chinese promptly arrested two Canadians – businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovring and charged them with spying.

The press release on the prime minister’s Washington visit described the arrests as “China’s wrongful detention of two Canadian citizens.”

In reprisal, China also cancelled billions of dollars in agricultural products it traditionally buys from Canada.

Wednesday, Trudeau’s office confirmed he tried to talk to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to discuss the detention of the Canadians but was rebuffed.

Trudeau has indicated he may do a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 meeting at the end of June. On a recent trip to Canada, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Trump would speak with the Chinese president during the summit.

The meeting between Trudeau and Trump is set for June 20.