Trump senior adviser not going to Canadian trade talks

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont.

Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump pulled America out of a multinational trade deal, Washington announced a senior representative would not attend a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

No reason was given for the cancellation by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and recently appointed senior adviser, who was to meet Trudeau in Calgary where the Canadian leader is on a three-day retreat with his senior ministers to develop a plan on how to handle trade discussions with the new U.S. administration, Canadian media reported.

The White House confirmed late Monday that Trump would personally meet Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto within 30 days to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement

Trump said during his campaign that he wanted to open up NAFTA to get a better deal for the United States. The free-trade pact is a three-country deal with the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive order Monday to pull the U.S. out of the proposed 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Renegotiation of NAFTA that went into effect Jan. 1, 1994, has been one of Trump’s priorities and the Canadian and Mexican governments have concerns about what the new deal will entail.

But Trump’s chief economic adviser said Canada should not be “enormously worried”, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Stephen Schwarzman, who was appointed by Trump in December, met with Trudeau on Monday in Calgary. He said trade between the two nations is largely balanced so Trump has not particularly targeted Canada.

“One of the important things is the unusually positive view that’s held of Canada,” Schwartzman told the CBC. “Canada has been a great partner for the U.S. for as long as anybody can remember. There may be some modifications, but basically, things should go well for Canada … it’s a model for how trade relations should be. It’s a positive sum game. Canada is well-positioned.”

There has been talk of a U.S. “border tax” on Canada’s energy exports, but Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr said he has heard nothing concrete.