Pence discusses China, Venezuela with Canadian PM Trudeau : White House

“The Vice President clearly stated the United States’ support for Canada in opposing China’s wrongful detention of two Canadian citizens, and discussed shared concerns over China’s coercive economic actions. Vice President Pence and Prime Minister Trudeau also discussed the crisis in Venezuela, reiterating their commitment to maintain pressure on the regime," the readout said.

The two officials also reiterated their support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who earlier this year declared himself the country's interim president.

Both the United States and Canada have backed Guaido's efforts to oust Venezuela's elected President Nicolas Maduro from power.
Maduro, in turn, has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido as its puppet and seize the country's natural resources, including its vast oil reserves. Russia, China, Turkey and numerous other countries have said they recognize Maduro as the only legitimate head of state in Venezuela.

Pence and Trudeau also discussed strengthening the economic cooperation between the two neighboring countries, including ratifying the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Canada, alongside Mexico, is part of a trilateral trade agreement with the United States which was referred to as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and had recently been reworked to the USMCA, or the new NAFTA.