On February 13, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump shook hands for the first time during a trip that had been planned months in advance. Many political commentators had been waiting for this moment because of the clear ideological differences between the two leaders, which raised the question of if they’d ever be able to create a positive and beneficial relationship. It had the potential to contrast the Prime Minister’s relationship with President Barack Obama, which has continuously been seen in a positive light.  Although it was the two leaders who were the focus of the day by the entire world, this initial meeting did not come about without numerous prior meetings between important decision makers.

Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford, his principal secretary Gerald Butts, Canada’s ambassador to Washington David MacNaughton, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her Parliamentary Secretary, Andrew Lesie, all travelled to Washington D.C. and New York City to meet Trump officials prior.  Some of those officials included Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, chief of staff Reince Priebus, Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross and chief strategist Steve Bannon.  All of these meetings and more helped the first meeting between the Canadian and American leaders be a success in relationship building, a relationship that has always been crucial for the economic ties between both countries. 

The day that included a one-on-one meeting between the Prime Minister and the President, a meeting between them and women CEOs from both countries and meetings with their leadership teams, ended with a press conference which highlighted the joint statement that was released at the same time.  It was clear the two leaders had found common ground on key issues such as boosting commerce and military co-operation.  Trump also reassured Canadian and American business leaders by stating that trade between the two countries is "a much less severe situation than what's taken place on the southern border, on the southern border for many, many years the transaction was not fair to the United States."  They also solidified trade ties by jointly stating that they "look forward to the expeditious completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge" which would increase trade in the busiest commercial trade crossing between the U.S. and Canada.  Finally, many trade officials and political pundits seem to have had their concerns appeased, at least for the time being.  Although this may have only been the first of many meetings, it certainly is a positive step in the right direction, which may allow for a continued positive relationship between both countries leadership.