#Justin Trudeau says he discussed Black Lives Matter movement with Trump

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he and President Trump discussed the Black Lives Matter movement during a Monday phone call.

“This morning I spoke with President Trump about the new NAFTA, about aluminum tariffs, about Black Lives Matter, and also about the issue of China and the two detained Canadians,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

The Canadian leader is a cultural progressive, but recently has come under fire for wearing “brownface,” three times, including to a costume party in 2001, and for alleged “cultural appropriation” during a trip to India.

Trudeau briefed reporters in both English and French. According to a translation of his French remarks, Trudeau said he discussed “systemic racism” with Trump.

The White House did not immediately release a readout of the call.

Trudeau declined an invitation to visit the White House last week amid the coronavirus pandemic. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador did visit the White House to mark implementation of the new three-country US-Mexico-Canada trade deal.

Trudeau repeatedly referred to the new trade deal as “NAFTA” rather than Trump’s preferred acronym “USMCA.”

The prime minister said he implored Trump not to impose new aluminum tariffs to slow Canadian exports.

“I highlighted to the president that the pandemic has disrupted usual manufacturing processes and supply chains, and that has caused certain disruption in the aluminum sector that is starting to realign itself,” Trudeau said. “I impressed upon him that it would be a shame to see tariffs come in between our two countries at a time where we’re celebrating NAFTA, at a time where we want our businesses or manufacturers to get going as quickly as possible.”

Trudeau said it’s unclear how long the US-Canada border will be closed to non-essential travel due to the coronavirus.

“We recognize that the situation continues to be complex in the United States in regards to COVID-19,” Trudeau said. “Every month we have been able to extend the border closures to all but essential goods and services, and those discussions are ongoing with the United States right now as we are a week from the next deadline for closures. We’re going to continue to work hard to keep Canadians safe, and to keep our economies flowing.”