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With a backdrop of Canadian oil producers still fuming over the Keystone XL project cancelation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday had his first official phone chat with new US President Joe Biden since he took office.
Reports quoting officials familiar with the conversation said Trudeau and Biden discussed various pressing issues during their 30-minute phone call, including the COVID-19 pandemic, its vaccines, climate change, Buy America and, of course, the Keystone XL pipeline.
The two leaders have reportedly set a meeting in February, though it has not been ascertained yet if it will be in person or virtually.
Canada and the US are on the verge of resetting their relations after four years of strained terms under former President Donald Trump. The fresh start, however, was left a little tainted in the wake of Biden’s executive order to revoke Alberta government-funded Keystone XL pipeline’s construction permit.
Trudeau has been under a lot of pressure to take some strong actions against the US for canning a billion-dollar Canadian project. Speaking at a press conference recently, he expressed his “disappointment” at Biden’s decision while indicating that he has no plans to pick up a fight with Canada’s biggest trading ally.
Key Highlights of the Trudeau-Biden Phone Call
Over his telephone call with Biden, Trudeau reportedly voiced his disappointment yet again and Biden, while recognizing the impact of his decision on the Canadian economy, stressed that it was a campaign commitment.
Trudeau and Biden also discussed the ‘Buy America’ agenda, which has Canadian exporters sitting on the edge of a cliff. The two leaders have reportedly agreed to exchange information on the matter so that Canada is not left high and dry in a surprise move.
The two leaders also discussed the Chinese government’s refusal to release Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained since December 2018.
Biden reportedly reminisced his last trip to Canada in December 2016, when he was the US vice president. He said that Canada and the US have “new opportunities” now to build a “very strong good relationship," as per officials.
As the northern neighbor, Canada is traditionally the first official tour destination stop of any newly-appointed US president. However, with the pandemic still calling the shots on major travelling plans, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that it will be a while before Biden sets sail on a foreign trip.
