Readout of President Biden’s Meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada
NOVEMBER 19, 2021•
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met yesterday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada to review implementation of the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership launched in February 2021 to revitalize their strategic partnership. Their wide-ranging discussion included joint efforts to combat COVID-19; build back better; accelerate climate action; advance diversity and inclusion; bolster security and defense; and build global alliances. They also agreed to work jointly to address the unprecedented migration challenges facing the Western Hemisphere in 2021, and underscored the importance of continued robust cooperation under the U.S.-Canada Action Plan on Opioids as the United States surpasses 100,000 drug overdose deaths.
Following the UN Climate Conference (COP26), they reiterated their pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, to enhance 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets, and they affirmed the Global Methane Pledge. The United States and Canada plan to expand clean electricity, grow zero-emissions vehicles and charging infrastructure, and accelerate carbon sequestration. They will work to reduce oil and gas sector emissions and end new direct public support for unabated fossil fuels internationally by the end of 2022. They affirmed their commitment to nature conservation, recognizing the importance of Indigenous-led conservation efforts, and committed to unlock financing for Small Island Developing States, especially in the Caribbean. They also pledged to support the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
Both underscored their commitment to supply chain security and resilience by announcing the creation of a U.S.-Canada Supply Chain Working Group, which builds on the Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals. Recognizing the extraordinary movement of migrants within the Western Hemisphere, they committed to working with other partners in the Americas on this hemispheric challenge in pursuit of a bold new regional compact on migration and protection. They committed to promoting innovation on sensitive and emerging technologies (including artificial intelligence and quantum computing), and shaping global digital policies and governance. They announced their intent to negotiate a bilateral Science, Technology, and Innovation Agreement in 2022.
Looking forward to the Summit for Democracy, the President and Prime Minister affirmed their commitment to promote democracy, human rights, and media freedom around the world. They also underscored the importance of an inclusive approach to promoting gender equality because empowering women and girls is a direct path to eradicating poverty and building a more peaceful, more inclusive, and more prosperous world.
The President and Prime Minister discussed our extensive cooperation on security, and committed to strengthen cooperation between the Five Eyes countries. They committed to establishing a Strategic Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific to promote regional security, the rule of law, good governance; to align our approaches on China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK); as well as affirming their strategic dialogue on Arctic cooperation. Both leaders also committed to continue close collaboration on Haiti, including to strengthen the Haitian National Police’s capacity and support inclusive political dialogue. They also pledged safe passage for foreign nationals and Afghans, resettlement and humanitarian assistance, and counter-terrorism cooperation.
Recalling the shared values and history that bind us together, the Prime Minister and President confirmed a shared commitment to strengthen the Canada-U.S. partnership for our collective security and prosperity. The President expressed that he looked forward to visiting Canada in the near future.
Remarks by President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and President López Obrador of Mexico Before North American Leaders’ Summit
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
East Room
5:23 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT BIDEN: All right, please sit down. Well, it’s an honor — I assume this is on. It’s an honor to — to welcome our two closest neighbors to the White House today: President López Obrador and Prime Minister Trudeau.
I want to thank them for joining me in this first North American Leaders’ Summit since 2016. And our North American vision for the future draws on our shared strengths, as well as three vibrant democracies with dynamic populations and economy wishing to work together — that we can be — we can meet today and we can meet all the challenges if we just take the time to speak with one another — by working together.
And we have to end the pandemic and to take decisive actions to curb the climate crisis.
We’ve had a chance to speak a little earlier today, but we have to drive an inclusive economic recovery and make sure all of our people share in the benefits, to have to manage the challenges of unprecedented migration into our hemisphere, and to take on inequity that continues to deny opportunity to too many people.
As leaders, we share an innate understanding that our diversity is an enormous strength, that we are best able to reach our potential when we — when we unleash the full — the full range of our people’s talents.
So, today, it’s about what we can do in partnership and mutual respect to strengthen our region and prove democracies can deliver in the second quarter of the 21st century, including by increasing supply chain resilience and reliance, worker protections, improving cybersecurity, and helping small and medium businesses thrive in the Northern Hemisphere.
A final point I’d like to do is related to today’s COVID news in America. First, earlier this month, Pfizer announced that its antiviral pill for people infected by COVID-19 — that may dramatically reduce hospitalizations and deaths. They made that announcement. While it’s still under FDA approval, I’m announcing today that we have purchased 10 million treatment courses, with deliveries starting late this year and all across 2022.
Second, yesterday we announced nearly 3 million children ages 5 to 11 got their first shot — 10 percent of all the children in the first day[s] of the program. Incredible progress.
Third, boosters — which provide the highest protection yet, especially for seniors. Advisors at the FDA and the CDC are reviewing whether to extend boosters to all adults. If that occurs, we have enough boosters for everyone.
And, finally, yesterday, we crossed 250 million doses delivered to 10 countries, and on our way to meeting our commitment of 1 billion, 200 dos- — 200 — 1,200,000,000 doses donated for free, no strings attached, to the rest of the world.
I’ll continue to take steps necessary to save lives and end this pandemic.
And I now will invite Prime Minister Trudeau to say a few words. And thanks, Mr. Prime Minister. The floor is yours.
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU: Thank you very much, Mr. President. I want to begin by saying that we are all thinking of Canadians back home in British Columbia who are facing terrible devastation from floods. The President and I spoke about it earlier today.
And I can reassure people in B.C. that we are doing everything we can to support and have the support of our neighbors in this, of course.
I want to thank you, President Biden, for hosting this NALS — the first since 2016 when I welcomed the then-leaders to Ottawa. It is a real pleasure to be gathered here with friends — with you and President López Obrador.
We are three countries with extremely strong ties between our people, with our visions and values for the future strongly united.
(Speaks in French.)
Our highest priority is, of course, ending COVID-19 and being focused on economic recovery, strengthened supply chains. We’re making sure that our integrated North American economy produces good jobs and supports the middle class in our three countries.
This will be underpinned by a world-class trade agreement that protects workers’ rights.
We’re ready to continue working together on the climate crisis.
(Speaks in French.)
Thank you very much, Mr. President for welcoming us here.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
Now I invite President López Obrador to say a few words as well. Mr. President.
PRESIDENT LÓPEZ OBRADOR: (As interpreted.) Dear friends, without any doubt, signing and ratifying the Mexico, United States, and Canada treaty has been an assertive decision on behalf of our people and nation.
Economic integration, in full respect for our sovereignty, is the best instrument to face the competition stemmed from growth in other regions of the world, especially the productive and commercial expansion of China.
We must not forget that while Canada, United States, and Mexico account for 13 percent of the world market, China (inaudible) 14.4 percent. And this imbalance started out only 30 years ago. In 1990, China’s share was 1.7 percent and North America’s was 16 percent.
If the trend seen in the last decade should prevail for the next 30 years, by 2051 China would account for 42 percent of the world market and United States, Mexico, and Canada would remain with 12 percent, which would not only an unacceptable disproportion in the economic sphere, it would keep the temptation alive to bet on sorting out the disparity with the use of force, which would put us all in danger.
This is why the best, the most convenient thing is to strengthen our economies, to strengthen our trade operations throughout North America and the entire continent — because there are several advantages.
Among them, we have the workforce; we have a young and creative workforce with technological development and with wealth of natural resources.
The distance between our countries allow us to make savings in terms of transportation.
And there is sufficient demand within our markets. The per capita consumption of the continent is $18,000 on an annual basis, whereas it is $4,000 in Asia.
Nonetheless, currently, consumers within our region have to wait in line to get home appliances or a car because we do not have semiconductors chips or because the maritime transportation prices went up.
Although, the deepest issue is that we are not producing enough and we are forced to importing merchandise from other countries. It is a paradox that so much money circulates throughout North America and the ports of the Pacific are overwhelmed with merchandise from Asia. And we must add the inflation impact entailed.
Why can we not produce in North America what we produce? Well, of course we can. It is a matter of defining a regional economic strategy.
And, of course, this happens because we need to jointly plan our development, and we should also foster a productive investment program throughout North America to replace the imports. And we must jointly define specific objectives and leave myths and prejudice aside.
We should no longer reject immigrants because, in order to grow, you need workforce — the workforce that you do not necessarily have — nor in the U.S., nor in Canada. Why not study the workforce demand, the labor demand and open the migratory flow?
The commercial treaty is a valuable instrument to consolidate our productive processes by embracing the huge potential represented by the internal market that will allow us to grow and develop as no other region of the world on behalf of our populations and nations.
President Biden, no President in the history of the United States has expressed, as you have, such a clear and certain commitment to improve the situation of the migrants. And thus, I wish to express my acknowledgement.
And I particularly refer to your proposal to regulate the migratory status of 11 million people who live and work honestly in this great nation.
I hope that you have the support of Congress and the members of both the Democrat and Republican parties.
Mexicans will be mindful and we will, in turn, express ourselves with respect and honesty. And we will know how to correspond with gratefulness, with gratitude, and friendship.
President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau, I’m sure that we can agree on the fact that we are living in, let’s say, interesting times of adversity and challenges. But that’s the way it is, and that’s how creativity and passion can emerge in order to transform and make history.
Thank you very much and congratulations.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you.
Jake Sullivan.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thanks. We’ll just give the press a couple minutes to leave the room before we get the meeting underway.
5:35 P.M. EST
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada Before Bilateral Meeting
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Oval Office
1:49 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT BIDEN: You guys all have health insurance, right? In case you get injured.
Q Yes, sir.
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU: Half of them are Canadian, so they definitely have — have health coverage.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: All right. Well, it’s great to welcome back the Prime Minister, who we’ve been good friends for a while, and — but it’s great to have him here in the White House. We’ve had a lot of meetings around the country and around the world. We’ve been with each other — what? — a half a dozen times almost so far?
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU: It’s been a busy year.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: And the — you know, we — I know we’re both keeping our minds close to the families affected by the storms, flooding in British Columbia area and the Pacific Northwest.
But one of the things we’ve spent time on is — on our global agenda is climate change. We’ve spent a lot of time dealing with that. And we are on the same page as to the need for us to move on it and get the rest of the world to move.
And since our first bilateral meeting back in February, we’ve met in venues around the world — getting COVID-19 under control; trying to deal with the next pandemic, be prepared for it; as well as meeting infrastructure needs across the developing world.
We see an opportunity not only to enhance the prospects of a better life for people around the world, but we can do it by the Build Back Better World, Build Back Better effort — that we can provide for the health needs as well.
We’re contributing a significant amount of vaccines, no strings attached. And we’re also — think we can — we should be building back in a more significant, more environmentally friendly way.
We’re meeting infrastructure needs, as I said. We’re driving inclusive economic recovery — together, as two nations — and meeting the climate crisis and standing up for democratic values.
And so, we’ve spent a lot of time at the G7, the G20, and COP26. And I think we both think we’re at our best when opportunity, equity, and justice all coincide. And — and they’re the core values of Canadians and the United States.
So, this is one of the easiest relationships you can have as an American President and one of the best.
Welcome.
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Joe. It’s — it’s been a busy year. It is a pleasure to be back here in Washington with you.
But as you say, we have had the virtual bilat. We’ve had many, many encounters at all sorts of different international fora where we’ve been strongly aligned on environment; on fighting COVID and getting — getting through this pandemic, preparing for future challenges; but also on building back better and recovering our economies in ways that work for the middle class, for people working hard to join it in a way that is inclusive and fair.
And we’ve got a lot — a lot of work to continue to do. The easy work is done here at home; the hard work around the world — making sure we’re bringing people along. And that’s something that we’re always great partners on.
(Speaks in French.)
I’m really looking forward to this. So, thank you, Joe.
Q Mr. President, can I ask you a question about your tax incentives for electric vehicles that would be assembled in the United States? The Canadian government says that would be a violation of the new trade agreement we just signed. Are you going to consider a carveout for Canada, given the fact that our indu- — auto industries are so integrated?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: We’re going to talk about that to so- — some extent.
Q Is it possible, Mr. President, to make changes for Canada?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: I said we were going to talk about that. We haven’t even — it hasn’t even passed yet through the House. We’re about to see that move. And we don’t know what will happen in the Senate, but there’s a lot of complicating factors. We’re going to talk at length about it, I’m sure.
Q Sir, do you support a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: It’s something we’re considering.
Q Do you think you can find common ground on the EV tax credit?
PRESIDENT BIDEN: The answer is: I don’t know. And I don’t know what we’re going to be dealing with, quite frankly, when it comes out of legislation. So, we’ll talk about it then.
1:55 P.M. EST
