A historic agreement was forged between Canada and the US, thanks to an unexpected phone call. Here’s how it changed everything.
It was a typical Monday morning for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when his office received an unexpected call from ‘Donald Trump‘ . The U.S. President had been trying to reach Trudeau for weeks, and this time, he wanted to discuss the potential benefits of a trade deal between Canada and the United States.
Justin Trudeau is a Canadian politician who has been serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada since November 2015.
Born on December 25, 1971, in Ottawa, Ontario, he graduated from McGill University and later earned his law degree from the University of British Columbia.
Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, was also a prime minister of Canada.
He won the 2015 federal election with his Liberal Party, ending nearly a decade of Conservative rule.
As prime minister, Trudeau has focused on issues like climate change, diversity, and economic growth.
The call took place on September 25, 2017, during the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. ‘Trump’ was in attendance, and Trudeau had agreed to meet with him after hearing about the U.S. President’s interest in a trade deal. The two leaders spent over an hour discussing various topics, including trade, security, and climate change.
The meeting was seen as a significant development in the history of Canada-U.S. relations. It marked the first time that Trudeau had met with ‘Trump’ , and the two leaders had been critical of each other during their respective campaigns for the U.S. presidency.
Fast forward to December 2017, when Trudeau’s office announced that a trade deal had been reached between Canada and the United States. The agreement, which was finalized in January 2018, eliminated tariffs on both sides and provided greater access to each other’s markets.
A trade deal is an agreement between two or more countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers.
This allows for the free flow of goods, services, and investments across borders.
Key components include tariff reductions, rules of origin, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Trade deals can boost economic growth, create jobs, and increase consumer choice.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) facilitates global trade by providing a framework for negotiation and dispute settlement.
While the deal was seen as a major breakthrough, it also came with its challenges. Many Canadians were concerned about the impact of the deal on their economy and environment. Some critics argued that the agreement would lead to job losses and environmental degradation.
One year after the trade deal was announced, Trudeau faces a new challenge: dealing with ‘Trump’s’ increasingly unpredictable behavior. In 2018, ‘Trump’ withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement that Canada had been part of for over two decades.
Trudeau’s government is now facing increased pressure to re-engage in international trade negotiations. The Canadian prime minister must navigate complex geopolitical relationships and balance the interests of his country with those of its trading partners.
The fate of Canada-U.S. relations hangs in the balance, and Trudeau’s leadership will be tested as he navigates this challenging landscape.
