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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on US official visit | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama and Canada's new liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have lavished praise on each other amid talks at the White House. | |
Mr Trudeau is in Washington for the first official visit by a Canadian leader in nearly 20 years. | |
The two leaders discussed trade, environmental and security issues. | |
The visit comes as US-Canada relations improve, having become strained under Mr Trudeau's conservative predecessor Stephen Harper. | |
The Canadian leader was earlier welcomed with a red-carpet ceremony, and a state dinner will follow. | |
Mr Obama extended an invitation to Mr Trudeau shortly after his election in October 2015. | Mr Obama extended an invitation to Mr Trudeau shortly after his election in October 2015. |
Is the US experiencing Trudeaumania? | Is the US experiencing Trudeaumania? |
What Canadians make of the US election | What Canadians make of the US election |
After their meeting, Mr Trudeau said he had learned a lot from "my friend Barack", who he described as "a man of both tremendous heart and tremendous intellect". | |
Earlier, Mr Obama said the two leaders share "a common outlook" and that Mr Trudeau had brought "new energy and dynamism not only to Canada but to the relationship between our nations". | |
He added that the US and Canada were "blessed to be neighbours". | |
The leaders have pledged cooperation on liberalising investment and trade, promoting clean energy and preventing foreign fighters from travelling to the Middle East. | |
An ongoing trade spat over Canadian softwood lumber exports was discussed and is expected to be resolved soon, Mr Trudeau said. | |
A lavish state dinner will be hosted for Mr Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau. The menu will feature nods to Canada in the form of poutine, Nanaimo bars and white chocolate snowballs. | |
'Significant deal' | 'Significant deal' |
Ahead of the meeting, a joint statement on environmental cooperation announced that the US and Canada would cut methane emissions by 40-45% below 2012 levels, by 2025. | Ahead of the meeting, a joint statement on environmental cooperation announced that the US and Canada would cut methane emissions by 40-45% below 2012 levels, by 2025. |
They also agreed to set "world class" standards on commercial activities in the Arctic, including oil and gas exploration. | They also agreed to set "world class" standards on commercial activities in the Arctic, including oil and gas exploration. |
US-Canada relations had previously suffered because of energy issues, when Mr Obama's administration opposed the Keystone XL pipeline, which was meant to transport oil from Canadian tar sands in Alberta to the US Gulf coast. | US-Canada relations had previously suffered because of energy issues, when Mr Obama's administration opposed the Keystone XL pipeline, which was meant to transport oil from Canadian tar sands in Alberta to the US Gulf coast. |
After Mr Trudeau's election, Mr Obama said they had agreed that the issue of climate change trumped any differences of opinion over the pipeline. | After Mr Trudeau's election, Mr Obama said they had agreed that the issue of climate change trumped any differences of opinion over the pipeline. |
Thursday's agreement will see new US regulations for methane emissions from existing power oil and gas sources developed immediately, while Canada aims to propose some new regulations by early 2017. | Thursday's agreement will see new US regulations for methane emissions from existing power oil and gas sources developed immediately, while Canada aims to propose some new regulations by early 2017. |
The boom in fracking for oil and gas on both sides of the US-Canada border has produced significant increases in emissions of methane gas over the past decade. | The boom in fracking for oil and gas on both sides of the US-Canada border has produced significant increases in emissions of methane gas over the past decade. |
The deal is significant as half the world's emissions from this sector in 2012 came from just seven countries including Canada and the US, BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath says. | The deal is significant as half the world's emissions from this sector in 2012 came from just seven countries including Canada and the US, BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath says. |
Methane, a greenhouse gas, has more than 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20 year period. | Methane, a greenhouse gas, has more than 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20 year period. |
Envious comparisons | Envious comparisons |
President Obama, 54, sees in the young leader a man who shares his progressive politics, as well as his early rhetoric of hope and change, the BBC's Barbara Plett-Usher reports from Washington. | President Obama, 54, sees in the young leader a man who shares his progressive politics, as well as his early rhetoric of hope and change, the BBC's Barbara Plett-Usher reports from Washington. |
Mr Trudeau's optimistic election platform has led many to draw comparisons with the beginning of Mr Obama's presidency and some American liberals to draw envious comparisons with the US's political scene. | Mr Trudeau's optimistic election platform has led many to draw comparisons with the beginning of Mr Obama's presidency and some American liberals to draw envious comparisons with the US's political scene. |
As Donald Trump solidified his position as front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination earlier this month, there was even a spike in internet searches about how to move to Canada. | As Donald Trump solidified his position as front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination earlier this month, there was even a spike in internet searches about how to move to Canada. |
In Washington, Prime Minister Trudeau chose his words carefully after being asked by reporters for his views on US-Canada relations under a Donald Trump or Ted Cruz presidency. | |
He said he looked forward to working with whoever US voters elected to the White House. |