- Title: Trudeau talks up Canada-US ties, seeks constructive relationship with Trump
- Date: 17th November 2016
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (NOVEMBER 17, 2016) (REUTERS) CEREMONIAL SOLDIERS AT GOVERNMENT EVENT VARIOUS OF TRUDEAU AND ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER SUSANA MALCORRA AT OFFICIAL EVENT IN LOCAL SQUARE MORE OF SOLDIERS AT EVENT TRUDEAU AND MALCORRA DURING CANADIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM VARIOUS OF EVENT PARTICIPANTS AT EVENT TRUDEAU AT EVENT TRUDEAU GREETING PEOPLE AT EVENT VARIOUS OF TRUDEAU AND MALCORRA WALKING TOGETHER TRUDEAU LEAVING EVENT
- Embargoed: 2nd December 2016 23:34
- Keywords: Canada Argentina United States Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00458U4U9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told media on Thursday (November 17) that the country's ties with the United States run deep amidst concerns over the future of the NAFTA free trade deal under president-elect Donald Trump.
Trudeau has come under fire from the Canadian opposition for saying last week he was open to renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, the United States and Mexico, given Trump has threatened to scrap it.
Playing down tensions between Canada and the United States, Trudeau said bilateral ties with the two North American nations are strong and he will uphold Canadian values in ties with the US.
"The fact is that the Canadian economy is deeply connected and linked to the United States' economy. It is a relationship that goes very much beyond a president and a prime minister and how it works is with companies. We are partners for 35 states in the United States, there are deep links and connections between people and companies between Canada and the United States. It goes beyond the personalities and the ideologies of its leaders and the two people in government at the time. As I have said repeatedly, I will work in a constructive way with the United States president regardless of who it is in the coming years. I know that Canadians want me to set out our interests and our values and this is exactly what I am thinking of doing," he said.
Trudeau is in Buenos Aires to boost relations with South America's second largest economy.
According to official statistics, Canadian direct investment in Argentina has topped $4.6 billion and Canadian merchandise exports to the South American nation have quadrupled to just over $175 million.
And in Buenos Aires, the two sides have reached agreement to allow imports of Canadian port to Argentina.
"As we have said, we are moving forward on getting greater access to Canadian agricultural products, for example pork. We are going to export more meat products to Argentine, pork products and we know that this will have its benefits, its advantages for Canadian agriculture, for Canadian cattle farmers," added Trudeau.
The two leaders have also vowed to work on free trade deals between their nations.
Following Argentina, Trudeau will travel to Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders summit. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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