[LINK] "Trudeau's imminent meeting with Trump carries substantial political risk"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC News' Chris Hall notes the risky nature of Trudeau's upcoming meeting with Trump, with trade and refugees being likely bilateral issues.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is preparing to meet as early as this week with U.S. President Donald Trump, a visit intended to underscore the deep economic and security ties between the two countries.

But it also carries substantial political risk.

While the date and location have yet to be confirmed, Canadian sources say the prime minister wants to sit down with Trump as soon as possible to explain the importance of the cross-border trade relationship that's worth more than $660 billion annually and supports millions of American jobs.

Trump, as anyone who follows the news will know, is a free-trade skeptic. He's said the Keystone XL pipeline should be built, but only with American steel. He's made it clear that companies looking to expand or build should do so in the U.S. or face stiff tariffs.

But economics is only one of the course requirements Trudeau needs before his first face-to-face encounter with Trump. National security and values are the other big ones.