CANADA/FOREIGN POLICY/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Canada’s prime minister left a meeting in the Oval Office Thursday [6-20-19] with a mixed political blessing: A proclamation of friendship from President Donald Trump. Justin Trudeau doesn’t want to be seen as chummy with Trump, since Trudeau’s liberal base back home despises him. But the reality is Canada — and Trudeau in his reelection efforts — need Trump on a wide range of trade and foreign policy issues. Trump has already come through for Trudeau in lifting steel tariffs, and he’s helping Canada when it comes to dealing with China, which has battered Canada in myriad ways — arresting its citizens, blocking its imports, and freezing out Canadian leaders from any facetime. Trump has also promised to take up Canada’s concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they meet next week at the G20 in Japan. And instead of rage-tweeting at Trudeau, which Trump did after visiting Canada a year ago, on Thursday following their meeting Trump instantly tweeted a flattering video, accompanied by an orchestral soundtrack.”
–Alexander Panetta, “Canadians may not like Trump, but they really need his help,” Politico, June 20, 2019 6:06 pm