Climate, trade, border crossings draw leaders’ pledges

Trudeau and Obama announced a plethora of new agreements and policies in Washington:

CLIMATE CHANGE

Canada and the U.S. will sign the Paris Agreement to fight climate change on April 22. The l eaders promised to finish new strategies for reducing greenhouse gases by the end of the year. That includes cutting harmful methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by up to 45 per cent by 2025. The leaders committed to working closely on pushing renewable energy.

THE BORDER

Canadians travelling to the U. S. will be cleared by customs agents before crossi ng t he border at more l ocations. The countries have agreed to expand preclearance to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport, as well as at train stations in Montreal and Vancouver. The U. S. already conducts pre- clearance operations at eight Canadian airports. To deal with mistaken identities on no- fly lists and other border- related complaints, the countries have agreed to create a “Canada- U. S. Redress Working Group.”

TRADE

Canadian and American officials, business representatives and consumer groups will redouble efforts to synchronize safety requirements for everything from trains carrying crude oil to motor vehicles to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and her U. S. counterpart have been given 100 days to head off a new softwood lumber dispute.

THE WORLD

Canada and the U. S. pledged to continue to work to cut off the Islamic State of Iraq and t he Levant’s f unding, curtail the flow of foreign terrorist fighters and counteract ISIL’s propaganda. A White House statement welcomed Canada’s commitment l ast month to enhance “co- operation to address the military, humanitarian and development aspects of the con- flict.” The countries will also look at renewing an early warning radar system spanning the Arctic region. There was no mention of the F- 35 stealth fighter, which the Liberals have promised not to buy. The leaders promised to help Haiti and Ukraine stand on their own two feet, push for better access to electricity and education for girls in Africa, and work outside the UN to fight nuclear proliferation.

Money was pledged to help dozens of countries prevent and respond to the threat of infectious disease.