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Trudeau Skipping Trump Summit with Mexican President

Reuters

   MEXICO CITY/OTTAWA - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will not
   visit Washington with Mexico's president this week to celebrate a new
   North American trade deal, his office said Monday, after Canada raised
   concerns over potential U.S. aluminum tariffs.

   In a Monday morning phone call, Trudeau told Mexican President Andres
   Manuel Lopez Obrador he hoped the talks with U.S. President Donald
   Trump would be successful.

   Lopez Obrador, who had urged Trudeau to join him, is to meet Trump at
   the White House on Wednesday on his first trip outside of Mexico since
   taking office 19 months ago.

   Trudeau will be attending Cabinet meetings and a sitting of parliament
   in Ottawa, his office said in a statement on Monday.

   "We wish the United States and Mexico well at Wednesday's meeting," the
   statement said.

   Trudeau last week said he was not sure about attending, citing tensions
   over possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian aluminum. Trudeau also flagged
   concerns over the novel coronavirus.

   In their call, Trudeau "expressed regret" to Lopez Obrador that he
   could not go to Washington, Trudeau's office said.

   Their discussion also touched on the United States-Mexico-Canada
   Agreement (USMCA) trade deal that went into effect last week, efforts
   to fight the coronavirus pandemic, and investment in renewable energy
   infrastructure.

   The two leaders expressed interest in meeting in person, Trudeau's
   office said, without providing further detail.

   Lopez Obrador said Trudeau was invited to Mexico, and after their call
   announced that the Canadian prime minister had agreed to visit the
   country "as soon as possible."

   Lopez Obrador said he will undergo a coronavirus test before leaving
   Mexico on Tuesday and was prepared to have another in the United States
   if necessary. Lopez Obrador said he plans to return to Mexico from
   Washington on Thursday.