US Vice President Kamala Harris "expressed strong solidarity" with the two Michaels, Canadian citizens who have been arbitrarily detained in China since 2018, during her first call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Global News reports.
Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were arbitrarily detained in China in December of 2018 in what observers have held to be retaliation for the arrest of Huawei CEO Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver International Airport. Meng was arrested upon request of the United States, where she is expected to be extradited to face charges of fraud.
During the call between Harris and Trudeau, the vice president "made clear that the United States would continue to do everything it can to secure their release."
Harris also "expressed the United States’ desire to work closely with Canada on a wide range of issues, including combating the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing climate change, and expanding our economic partnership in ways that advance the recovery and create jobs in both countries," according to a readout of the call.
During the call, Trudeau expressed concern about the Biden administration's Buy America policies, worried that it could harm Canada's trade relationship with the United States. The trade relationship between the two countries was already strained under former President Donald Trump, during which the two countries placed tariffs on each other.
Trudeau also reportedly discussed the issue of "energy security" in North America, although it is unclear if this is a reference to climate change or the Keystone XL pipeline.
The pipeline, which was a job creator in both Canada and the United States, was cancelled by President Joe Biden via executive order on his first day of office. More than 11,000 jobs were lost as a result of its cancellation on both sides of the border.
The call was the first foreign call made by Harris since becoming vice president.
Trudeau had his first call with Biden on Jan 22, two days after Biden took the oath of office.
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