Trudeau, Trump discuss Russian spy attack, NAFTA in phone call

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke over the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday evening about the situation with Russia.

A press release from the PMO’s office said the the pair “discussed measures taken by Canada and the United States to support our common ally against Russia in response to the egregious nerve agent attack in Salisbury, United Kingdom.”

READ MORE: Canada expels four Russian officials in retaliation for U.K. spy attack

On Monday, the Canadian government announced it would expel four diplomats in response to Russian involvement in the chemical attack which left a former Russian spy and his daughter in critical condition in the U.K. on March 4.

WATCH: British PM says 18 countries including Canada, U.S. will expel Russian diplomats

0:46 British PM says 18 countries including Canada, U.S. will expel Russian diplomats

“The nerve agent attack in Salisbury, on the soil of Canada’s close partner and ally, is a despicable, heinous and reckless act, potentially endangering the lives of hundreds,” Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

Other countries around the world also moved to expel Russian officials from their countries including the U.S., which said it would send 60 Russian diplomats packing in response to the affair.

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READ MORE: Donald Trump expels 60 Russian diplomats for Moscow’s alleged role in U.K. spy poisoning case

Russia has repeatedly denied responsibility and instead suggested that the U.K. itself was behind the use of a Soviet military-grade nerve agent, which also injured around 30 bystanders.

1:51 White House says U.S. taking action on Russia spy attack ‘takes time’

• White House says U.S. taking action on Russia spy attack ‘takes time’
• White House says Russian spy attack ‘brazen and reckless’ action

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Trump and Trudeau also spoke about NAFTA, according to the PMO release, with Trudeau having reiterated his feelings that the countries would benefit from getting a NAFTA deal finished sooner rather than later.

READ MORE: Russia calls expulsion of diplomats a ‘provocative gesture,’ promises response to ‘unfriendly step’

Trudeau is also said to have told Trump that Canada is taking strong measures “to address unfair trade in steel and aluminum.”

On Monday night, Trump spoke of ongoing U.S. trade talks with “numerous countries that, for many years, have not treated the United States fairly.

He suggested “all will be happy” with the result.

*With files from Global News’ Amanda Connolly