President Joe Biden visited Canada on Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his first official foreign trip since taking office. The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including managing the US-Canada border, offering assistance to Haiti in the wake of gang violence, and sharing economic and climate change goals.
One of the key topics of discussion was the border between the two countries. Since March 2020, the border has been closed to non-essential travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with vaccination rates increasing and cases decreasing, there is growing pressure to reopen the border. Biden and Trudeau discussed the possibility of creating a phased reopening plan that would prioritize the safety of citizens while also allowing for cross-border trade and travel.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Haiti, which has been plagued by gang violence and political instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. Biden and Trudeau pledged to work together to provide aid to the country and support efforts to restore order and democracy. The United States has already committed $32 million in aid to Haiti, and the two leaders discussed the possibility of additional assistance.
Another important topic was economic cooperation between the two countries. Biden and Trudeau emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong trade relationship between the United States and Canada, which has been a key driver of economic growth and job creation in both countries. They also discussed the need to address climate change, including the transition to clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
During a joint press conference, Biden praised Canada’s efforts to combat climate change and announced a new initiative to expand clean energy infrastructure along the US-Canada border. The initiative will include investments in electric vehicle charging stations, renewable energy projects, and grid modernization. Biden also announced that the United States would be rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, which Canada never left, and reaffirmed his commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Trudeau expressed his gratitude for Biden’s leadership on climate change and noted the importance of cooperation between the two countries. “Canada and the United States are not only neighbors, but we are partners and friends,” he said. “We share a long history of cooperation, and I look forward to continuing to work together to tackle the challenges we face, from the pandemic to climate change to economic recovery.”
Overall, the meeting between Biden and Trudeau was seen as a positive step in strengthening the relationship between the United States and Canada. Both leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation and working together to address the challenges facing their countries and the world. As Biden said during the press conference, “We’re stronger when we work together, and that’s what we’re
going to do.”