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Katherine Gregg Journal Political Writer kathyprojo

PROVIDENCE, R.I. Vice President Mike Pence and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected to have a private tte--tte while they are both in Providence on Friday, to deliver speeches to the National Governors Association's summer meeting.

It is not on the official NGA schedule, but Scott Pattison, the executive director and CEO of the Governors Association, and NGA spokeswoman Elena Waskey told The Journal that they anticipate Pence, the former governor of Indiana, will also meet privately in Rhode Island with the governors, many of whom are his friends.

Marc Lotter, the vice president's press secretary, confirmed the meetings in an email to The Journal. He said more details would be released later Thursday.

Trudeau's presence at the governors' event along with other officials from Canada, Mexico, India, China and Japan hasdrawn national attention.

As stated in a Washington Post article on the Governors Association event: "The sudden interest in the work of the governors from abroad reflects fears by leaders of some foreign governments about the direction of U.S. trade policy under a president who has sharply criticized free-trade agreements negotiated by past administrations."

With 1,500 expected attendees, Pattison said the Rhode Island conference appears to be drawing the largest number ever for a National Governors Association summer meeting, and if all the governors who registered show up one of the largest turnouts of governors.

Link:
Mike Pence, Justin Trudeau expected to meet privately in Providence - The Providence Journal