Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declined an invitation to a White House event to commemorate the signing of the USMCA trade deal, ABC News reports.
President Trump and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will meet Wednesday in Washington, but Trudeau has opted to stay in Ottawa where he will hold online Cabinet meetings.
“While there were recent discussions about the possible participation of Canada, the prime minister will be in Ottawa this week for scheduled Cabinet meetings and the long-planned sitting of Parliament,” Trudeau spokesperson Chantal Gagnon said.
While the USMCA official took effect July 1st, the US and its trading partners have many unresolved trade issues that are currently adding to tensions between the countries.
Neither the Office of First Lady Melania Trump nor the Office of the First Daughter Ivanka Kushner have publicly commented on their disappointment at not being able to meet with Trudeau.