Trump, Trudeau cordial talks highlight China issues and promote new North America trade deal

   Canada column for Sunday, June 23/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   A series of initiatives including trying to free two Canadians imprisoned in China marks a return to warmer relations between Canada and the United States.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met for a third time in Washington with President Donald Trump and reached “cooperation” on common goals.

   Trump vowed to do whatever possible to free Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig when he meets China’s President Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders’ summit in Japan on June 28 and 29.

   The two Canadians were arrested after Canada took into custody high-tech mogul Meng Wanzhou last December at the request of the U.S.

   She is being held under house arrest in Vancouver awaiting possible extradition to the U.S. on allegations of fraud for violating Iran sanctions.

   A main objective of Trudeau’s visit was to push for the signing of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact.

   The leaders announced agreement on easing the flow of goods and people across the border with a new preclearance plan and sharing information on people entering and leaving the two countries.

Parade, fan rally for NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors

   Canada column for Sunday, June 16/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Thousands of people are expected for the parade and fan rally Monday to cap the cross-country celebrations for National Basketball Association champions, the Toronto Raptors.

   The Raptors battled to a 114-110 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 and became the first team outside the United States to win an NBA title.

   The big question now is whether Kawhi Leonard, named the NBA finals MVP and led the Raptors all season, will stay in Toronto as his free-agent status looms.

   After the final game in Oakland, head coach Nick Nurse and the team made a side trip to celebrate in Las Vegas.

   All of Canada got behind the team and crowded public squares where the game was shown on large screen monitors, including at “Jurassic Park” outside the Toronto arena.

   The parade makes its way from Exhibition Park to city hall and Nathan Phillips Square for a fan rally and then a viewing party at Coronation Park.

   The team will ride in open-air double decker buses along with the NBA Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

Veterans, prime minister mark 75th anniversary of D-Day in France

   Canada column for Sunday, June 9/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadian veterans made a somber return to Normandy, France to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion that was a turning point in the Second World War.

   They walked and were wheeled along the surf at Juno Beach where the landings on June 6, 1944 were the largest seaborne invasion in history.

  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on the spot where 14,000 Canadian troops stormed ashore in the battle to overthrow Nazi Germany.

   It was there that 359 Canadians were killed and 700 wounded and captured.

   “We know there will always be challenging times in the world but by remembering moments of the past we can always do better as we look to the future,” Trudeau said.

   On the beach, General Jonathan Vance said it was a “touching moment” to see the veterans, most of them in their 90s, to be there once more.

   The ceremonies included artillery delivering a salute while C-47 Dakota transport planes with invasion stripes flew overhead.

U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods could derail trade pact, Canada warns

   Canada column for Sunday, June 2/19

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Just as talks got back on track toward reaching a new North American trade deal, a U.S. tariff on Mexico threatens to derail the negotiations.

   U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence was in Canada on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to give momentum to the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

   Then on Friday, President Donald Trump announced the new tariff unless Mexico stops migrants from Central and South America from reaching the U.S. border.

   Trump said the U.S. will tax all imports from Mexico starting with 5 percent on June 10 and increasing to 25 percent by October.

   Recently the U.S. removed tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico but the new taxes are broader and more costly.

   Canada and Mexico are in the process of ratifying the new deal but it has stalled in the U.S. over environmental and labor issues.

   “In order not to pay tariffs, if they start rising, companies will leave Mexico, which has taken 30 per cent of our auto industry, and come back home to the U.S.A.,” Trump commented.