Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will use a meeting with President Joe Biden to stress that keeping up the smooth flow of goods across the Canada-U.S. border is in the best interests of both countries.
Trudeau says that when supply chains around the world are crunched because of COVID-19 and people are wondering how they're going to acquire things they need, the U.S. "could do worse" than rely on its closest friend to ensure resiliency.
The prime minister made the remarks at a question-and-answer session hosted by the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., where he's set to meet with U.S. officials before the so-called Three Amigos summit with Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Trudeau told the crowd that his government began talking with the U.S. two or three years ago about Canada's abundant supply of critical minerals, which are used in batteries for computers, cellphones, electric vehicles and other essential items.
He says Canada can't compete with some countries when it comes to the low cost of production, because those other nations "don't care" about environment or labour standards, but the trade-off is worth it because Canada is a more reliable source.
China is the world's leading supplier of those minerals and pandemic-induced bottlenecks have created major shortages.
The prime minister also says climate change will be a focus of his discussions with Biden and Lopez Obrador, stressing that his government was able to win two elections after implementing a national price on pollution and there is a need for a global carbon price.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, International Trade Minister Mary Ng and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino joined Trudeau on stage at the Wilson Center event.
Freeland agreed with Trudeau that the world should avoid a "race to the bottom" when it comes to critical minerals and she also stressed the importance of a global price on carbon.
