US vice president in Canada praises Trump, Trudeau

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is in Canada on Thursday for discussions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On the docket is the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) free trade deal and relations with China. The trade agreement must be ratified by the legislatures in all three countries.

Pence addressed some of the Canadian negotiators, including Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. He said he likes the USMCA, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“I really do believe that the USMCA is an idea whose time has come,” he said. “Our administration is working earnestly with leaders in the Congress of the United States to approve the USMCA this summer.”

Pence also said earlier in the day that because of the forward-thinking leadership of Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump, the bond between Canada and the U.S. is stronger than at any time in history.

“I want to assure the people of Canada that the prime minister drove a hard bargain (on the USMCA), as did our president,” he said. “I want to assure you that we’re making energetic efforts to move the approval through the Congress.“

Still, there are bumps on both sides.

Some Democrats are unhappy with the deal, suggesting stronger labor and environmental standards are needed, as well as a weakening of so-called “monopoly rights” of large pharmaceutical firms.

Trudeau said negotiations are finished and there is no reason to revisit USMCA provisions. At a news conference after meeting Pence, he urged Democrats to pass the deal.

“They are significant things that we look to the U.S. Democrats to understand are significant improvements and are issues, like Canadian Liberals, they care deeply about,” Trudeau said. “We are confident that the work being done on ratification is possible because we made sure that, from multiple angles, this was a better deal for Americans, for Canadians and for Mexicans.”

Another obstacle involves China.

In December, Canada arrested Huawei CEO Meng Wanzhou at the request of the Americans. She is under house arrest in Vancouver awaiting an extradition hearing. The U.S. says she violated trade sanctions against Iran.

China then arrested two Canadians and the move was largely seen as retribution for Meng’s detention. Pence said the U.S. addressed the situation.

“The United States has spoken out strongly about the arrests and detentions … just know that we stand with you for the security of our country and yours and for the interests of our citizens” he said.

The Pence visit is just for the day.