OTTAWA — U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence says Justin Trudeau "drove a hard bargain" when it came to negotiating a new trilateral North American trade pact.
Pence made the comments today during a brief handshake and photo-op with the prime minister on Parliament Hill as the pair began a day-long visit, Pence's first as Donald Trump's lieutenant and the highest-level Trump White House visit on Canadian soil to date.
He also says the relationship between the two countries is stronger than it has ever been, thanks to the leadership of both Trump and Trudeau.
The ratification of the new trade deal will dominate a packed agenda as the two leaders meet behind closed doors, but they both made clear that relations with China will also be top of mind during the discussions.
While Trudeau has said he also wants to talk about what he calls the backsliding of women's rights in the U.S. with Pence, a well-known opponent of abortion, neither leader mentioned the issue during this morning's brief photo spray.
Pence thanked Trudeau for the steps Canada is taking to ratify the new deal, and assured him that the Trump administration is also making an aggressive push to get the agreement through Congress — something that's far from a foregone conclusion at this point.
"I want to assure the people of Canada that the prime minister drove a hard bargain, as did our president," Pence said. "I want to assure you that we're making energetic efforts to move the approval through the Congress of the United States this summer."
Pence arrived shortly before midday at the airport in Ottawa, disembarking from a Boeing C-32 bearing the familiar blue, white and gold markings of the U.S. executive branch — the airliner typically designated as Air Force Two. He and his wife Karen were promptly bundled into a black SUV for the motorcade journey into the national capital.
"President Trump and I believe the relationship between the United States and Canada has never been stronger, and that is a reflection of his leadership, your leadership and the bonds that have been forged through the generations by those who have served in uniform, shoulder to shoulder," Pence said after signing the guest book in the Commons foyer.
Trade will dominate the initial discussion between the two leaders, but while their focus will be on the pending ratification of the new continental trade pact, other remaining irritants will also be on the agenda, said a senior government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record about the talks.
China looms large in that category, given the detention of two Canadian citizens there in the wake of the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou on an extradition request from the U.S. Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland have branded the arrests of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor as arbitrary.
"The United States has spoken out strongly about the arrests and detentions of two Canadian citizens in China," said Pence.
"Our relationship with China, both economic and strategic, is a real focus of both of our countries ... just know that we stand with you for the security of our country and yours and for the interests of our citizens."
Pence in particular mentioned the crisis in Venezuela, noting that the U.S. was the first country to acknowledge opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's de-facto president and reject the leadership of Nicolas Maduro, a position echoed by Canada.
The ongoing softwood lumber dispute and future U.S. plans for tariffs on uranium imports, which would have a big impact if they applied to Canada, will also be raised, the official said.
The new trade deal, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, doesn't come into force unless all three countries ratify it; as Pence arrived in Canada, Democratic opposition in U.S. Congress was once again rearing its head in the form of a Connecticut Democrat opposed to the agreement.
"While the Canadians rush to approve this deal, Congressional Democrats remain committed to making key changes to the core of the agreement that will include strong labour and environmental standards and enforcement and remove the monopoly rights for Big Pharma," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
"These key changes must be included in the text of the agreement in order for it to be considered in Congress. I encourage my colleagues in Canada to address these critical issues before passing the agreement."
The Trudeau government has said the deal is done, and not open to further negotiation.
The divisive abortion question is now on the agenda after Trudeau said Wednesday he is concerned about how women's rights have been affected by conservative movements in Canada, in the U.S. and around the world. He said he will have a broad conversation with the vice-president.
Some states have recently passed anti-abortion laws, attempting to force the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its decision in the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade case that provides constitutional protection for a woman's right to choose.
While Trudeau and Pence are on opposite of the abortion debate, the vice-president is viewed in Ottawa as a reliable partner on the trade file.
Last week, Freeland said Pence has been "a strong and effective supporter of free trade. He has been someone who has spoken out in the United States about the value of NAFTA for both Canadians and Americans."
That contrasts with the Trudeau government's frequent labelling of the Trump administration as protectionist, especially during the long and sometimes bitter NAFTA renegotiation.
When asked Thursday about the state of the cross-border relationship, Trudeau's finance chief Bill Morneau told a business audience that there are clearly "flash points" with the Trump administration — but he said it's important to consider the context.
The U.S., he said, is seeking changes to trading relationships in response to Americans who are frustrated with their situation.
"We have a really deep and broad relationship with the United States," the finance minister said during a breakfast event hosted by the Milton Chamber of Commerce in the Toronto region.
"There will always be flashpoints, there's just maybe a little more drama now than there has been in the past."
Trudeau is to meet Pence on Parliament Hill before they attend a luncheon with the Canadian Council for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The Liberal government introduced its legislation to ratify the new trade deal on Wednesday.
Trudeau said earlier this week that Canada intends to align its ratification process with the time frame of the U.S. Congress.
Pence is also to take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the National Military Cemetery before returning to Washington.