Trudeau may be a no-show at trade pact signing - POLITICO

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is wary of being seen kowtowing to President Donald Trump. | Jack Taylor/Getty Images

BUENOS AIRES — Just hours before the United States, Mexico and Canada are slated to sign a landmark trade agreement among the three nations, it remains unclear whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will participate in a ceremonial signing event here.

Canadian officials and others familiar with the event said Thursday night that Trudeau’s participation is in doubt, though they stressed that Canada — perhaps by way of a lower-level government official — will sign the agreement.

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An early release of Trudeau’s public schedule at this weekend’s G-20 summit here featured 11 events Friday — none of them about the trade deal signing. But the schedule did include a gap in the morning before his first announced event at 10 a.m.

As of Thursday night, President Donald Trump and outgoing Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto were scheduled to participate in the Friday morning signing ceremony. But officials said the format of the event could change and perhaps include lower-level officials.

Trump and Trudeau have a sometimes tense relationship, though White House aides say the two leaders have mended some of the frustrations stemming from June’s G-7 meeting. Trump left the summit early and later decided to withdraw his support from the joint statement signed by the participating countries.

The potential snub comes as Canada continues to negotiate with the United States about whether Trump will exempt Canada and Mexico from his tariffs on steel and aluminum as part of the trade deal. The lack of progress on the issue has infuriated the Canadians.

Canada’s ambassador to Washington, David MacNaughton, recently said in jest during a POLITICO interview that with steel tariffs lingering, perhaps the appropriate Canadian to sign the agreement would be a Buenos Aires embassy underling “with a bag over his head.”

But the Canadian government is worried about more than the tariffs: Next year’s election is also a concern. Trudeau is wary of being seen as kowtowing to Trump, for fear of losing votes to the left-wing New Democratic Party and jeopardizing the Liberal hold on big-city and suburban districts.

One U.S. source familiar with the late-stage discussions about Friday’s event says it’s possible there will be two events: a signing featuring ministers and a public leaders’ meeting that might — or might not — include Trudeau.

A Canadian government spokesman had no comment on the event.

Restuccia and Palmer reported from Buenos Aires and Panetta reported from Washington.