Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today concluded a successful visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of Team Canada’s efforts to strengthen the Canada-U.S. relationship, enhance cross-border trade opportunities, and ensure fairness for future generations.
During his visit, Prime Minister Trudeau participated in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Quadrennial North American Convention. In his remarks, he emphasized the strong partnership between Canada and the U.S. and the critical role of labor unions, especially in the health care sector, in protecting workers’ rights, creating stability, defending good middle-class jobs, and building robust economies on both sides of the border.
At the convention, Prime Minister Trudeau and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris met with union representatives to discuss the vital contributions of organized labor, exemplified by cross-border unions. The leaders explored ways to further strengthen the Canada-U.S. relationship and collaborate on areas of mutual interest, including increasing trade and investment, enhancing cross-border supply chains, supporting manufacturing sectors, and accelerating the transition to net-zero emissions. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to building a better, fairer, and more prosperous future for Canadians and Americans alike.
Prime Minister Trudeau also met with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to discuss the Canada-Pennsylvania relationship. They highlighted the rich ties between Canada and Pennsylvania, noting that Pennsylvania is home to many Canadians and that Canadian-owned companies employed 30,300 workers in the state in 2023. Canada also exports US$13.6 billion in goods to Pennsylvania annually, underscoring the importance of this economic relationship.
In addition, Prime Minister Trudeau participated in a roundtable with U.S. business leaders, showcasing Canada as an important partner and prime investment destination. They discussed opportunities for future commercial, investment, and trade collaboration.
While in Philadelphia, Prime Minister Trudeau virtually participated in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Seoul Summit alongside other world leaders and representatives from industry, academia, and civil society. He highlighted Canada’s leadership and investments in AI, including a $2.4 billion package of measures announced in Budget 2024. Prime Minister Trudeau joined the Seoul Declaration for Safe, Innovative, and Inclusive AI, a roadmap to advance AI safety globally through an international network of AI Safety Institutes. Canada also announced a $50 million investment to create a Canadian AI Safety Institute, joining the United Kingdom, the U.S., and Japan in establishing similar institutes. Prior to the summit, Canada and the United Kingdom negotiated a joint ministerial statement on AI safety to deepen collaboration in this field.
Quotes
“Canada and the U.S. have the world’s most successful partnership. Team Canada is working with our American partners to deepen these ties, grow our economies, keep our air clean, create good-paying jobs, and build a better, fairer future. Together, we’re putting our people on both sides of the border at the forefront of opportunity.”
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada