One person was conspicuous by his absence when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doled out thanks to parties who were involved in the negotiations of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) on Monday.
That person was none other than U.S. President Donald Trump.
At a press conference on Monday alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau thanked her, as well as Canada’s premiers, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, NAFTA negotiator Steve Verheul, Canadian ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton and U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer.
Trump was nowhere to be heard.
READ MORE: NAFTA deal reached — Canada, U.S., Mexico reach trade agreement under new name
The omission was notable after a lengthy spell of negotiations that has seen tensions grow between Canada and the U.S.
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Trudeau and Trump entered into a war of words that began in May, after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel.
Canada retaliated with tariffs targeting approximately $16.6 billion in goods.
The rhetoric between them ratcheted up throughout June, with Trump taking aim at Canadian tariffs on dairy that he said were “killing” American agriculture.
Trudeau, meanwhile, said he was “disappointed” that Trump had imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum.
READ MORE: Timeline of Donald Trump’s war of words (and trade) with Justin Trudeau
At a separate press conference on Monday, Trump admitted there were tensions between himself and the prime minister — even as he previously said America’s relationship with Canada and G7 countries was “10 out of 10” — and said whatever came between them did not affect the ability to complete this deal.
“He’s a professional, I’m a professional,” Trump said.
“We had very strong tensions, it was just an unfair deal whether it was Mexico or Canada, and now it’s a fair deal for everybody. It’s a much different deal, it’s a brand new deal, it’s not NAFTA redone, it’s a brand new deal.”
WATCH: Trump thanks Mexico’s Nieto, Justin Trudeau over USMCA deal
Trump went on to say that he had just spoken with Trudeau, that the pair have a “great relationship,” and that they were going to work as “partners.”
The U.S. president said his tensions with Trudeau ended “at about 12 o’clock last night.”
“He’s a good man, he’s done a good job and he loves the people of Canada,” Trump said.
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