President Barack Obama and new Canadian Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday ended a frosty period in bilateral ties by
agreeing to tackle climate change and strive to settle a long-lasting trade
dispute over Canadian softwood lumber exports.
The neighboring countries are traditionally
close but relations had soured under former prime minister Stephen Harper, who
hectored the White House in a failed bid to push through U.S. approval for the
Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Obama and Trudeau, whose Liberals came to power
last November promising better cooperation with Washington, pledged joint steps
to fight global warming, including cutting methane emissions from oil and gas
operations.
The countries committed to cutting emissions of
methane by 40 to 45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025, to take steps to fight
climate change in the Arctic, and to speed development of green technologies.
They also told officials to look for solutions
to a lengthy dispute over exports of Canadian softwood lumber, as well as
promising to make it easier for goods and people to cross the long shared
border.
"I am grateful that I have him as a partner
... When it comes to the central challenges that we face, our two nations are
more closely aligned than ever," Obama told a news conference after talks
with Trudeau.
"The President and I agree on many things
including, of paramount importance, the direction we want to take our countries
in to ensure a clean and prosperous future," said Trudeau.
In another sign of friendlier bilateral ties,
Trudeau invited Obama to address the Canadian Parliament this year.
Americans have been captivated by the photogenic
Trudeau, 44, whose father, Pierre Trudeau, was prime minister from 1968 through
1979, and again from 1980 to 1984.
His visit will be capped by a state dinner on
Thursday but that could be overshadowed by the race to succeed Obama in
November's presidential election. Candidates for the Republican nomination will
hold a debate on Thursday night.
Trudeau declined to say what he would do in case
the next president was Donald Trump, who has mused about tearing up the North
American Free Trade Agreement.
"The friendship between our two countries
goes far beyond any two individuals or any ideologies," he said.
"I have tremendous confidence in the
American people, and look forward to working with whomever they choose to send
to this White House later this year."
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