Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday spoke with the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The Prime Minister and the President agreed that the recent entry into force of the new NAFTA would strengthen the deep economic ties and longstanding friendship between Canada and Mexico, and advance social as well as economic development in both countries.
The Prime Minister expressed regret that he is unable to travel to Washington D.C. this week and wished President López Obrador a successful meeting with the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
(Media reports said Trudeau declined to attend the trilateral summit, citing that he would have to would remain in Ottawa week for cabinet meetings and parliamentary debate. Last week, the prime minister had cited threats of new aluminum and steel tariffs by the US also as a potential factor in his decision.)
“We wish the United States and Mexico well at Wednesday’s meeting,” spokeswoman Chantal Gagnon said. The two leaders discussed the significant efforts made by each country to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and looked forward to their next meeting.