President Biden joins Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the North American Leaders Summit at the White House on Thursday.
Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
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Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
President Biden joins Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the North American Leaders Summit at the White House on Thursday.
Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
President Biden on Thursday hosted the heads of Canada and Mexico for a trilateral summit – the first summit of North American leaders of its kind since 2016.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador joined Biden at the White House to discuss issues including immigration, security, trade, climate and the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden hopes to heal some of the wounds left by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, whose protectionist, “America First” policy isolated the United States from its neighbors and close allies. while at the same time drawing outrage from some world leaders.
Under Trump, these once-in-a-lifetime meetings have come to an end, as the former president fails to focus on American priorities, regardless of the global impact of these decisions, especially as they involve trade and immigration.
While Biden wants to make a fresh start with America’s neighbors, there are some economic sticking points that the three leaders have overlooked – such as the US proposal to provide credit. taxes on electric vehicles that are only for cars and trucks made in the US with union labor.
Thursday’s meetings at the White House are heavily symbolic.
During his bilateral meeting with López Obrador, Biden emphasized that the United States has turned its back on the past.
“I believe it’s a different and emerging relationship, built on mutual respect,” he said.
With Trudeau, Biden emphasized the shared values of “opportunity, equity, and justice” and said, “This is one of the easiest relationships you can have as a general. President of the United States, and one of the best relationships.”
Biden met with each of the leaders individually, and then the three met.
