Canada's Trudeau talks trade with Trump at White House

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (L) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump (R) at the conclusion of their joint news conference at the White House in Washington, US, February 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resolutely played up their similarities at their first meeting Monday, even as obvious differences lurked behind their public smiles.

After their White House meeting, the North American neighbors emerged to hail their close ties, with Trump promising to "build upon our very historic friendship" and Trudeau noting the "special" bond between the countries.

But it was hard to escape their contrasting worldviews.

Speaking to reporters, Trump defended his restrictive refugee and immigration orders, saying that "we cannot let the wrong people in." Trudeau, on the other hand, said Canada continues to "pursue our policies of openness."Trudeau later acknowledged that there are times when the two countries differ. But he said, "The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they chose to govern themselves."During their post-meeting news conference, the reporters Trump called on did not ask about two pressing issues of the day - the future of embattled National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch.

The stakes for Trudeau in his Washington visit are high: He is seeking to ensure Canada is not crippled as Trump re-negotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement. And he got much of what he was looking for. Trump praised the "outstanding" trade relationship between the United States and Canada and said he would only be "tweaking" it going forward.

"We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border," said Trump, who has been strongly critical of America's trade situation with Mexico.

Trade relations with the US are crucial to Canada as more than 75 percent of Canada's exports and 98 percent of its oil exports go to the US, while 18 percent of American exports go to Canada.

Monday's meeting was billed as one the most important for a Canadian leader with a US president in decades because of Canada's heavy reliance on its southern neighbor.

Trump greeted Trudeau with a firm handshake as the Canadian arrived at the White House on a blustery morning. The two posed silently before reporters, until Trump suggested they shake hands for the cameras. Trudeau did bring a personal gift - a photo of Trump with Trudeau's father, the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.