Trump and Trudeau handshake at UN luncheon shows simmering tensions between leaders

The US and Canada have been unable to resolve differences over a new trade agreement ahead of a Sunday deadline

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump are not the best of friends at the moment, if their latest handshake is anything to go by.

The two world leaders attended the same luncheon during the UN luncheon in New York, where the two were filmed with what has been interpreted as an awkward exchanged and handshake.

The video shows Mr Trudeau approach Mr Trump from behind, as the American leader sits at a table reading from a sheet of paper without acknowledging him. Mr Trudeau then taps Mr Trump’s shoulder, at which point they have a brief exchange while the US president remained seated.

Mr Trump later showed a different level of respect when approached by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who recently negotiated a potential change to the US-Mexico trade relationship. The US president, when approached then, stood up for the handshake. Mr Trump also stood to say hello to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The relationship between Mr Trump and Mr Trudeau has soured in recent months as the two countries have remained divided with a US deadline for a new Nafta pact bearing down. Before that, the once warm rapport between the two was scarred when Mr Trump contradicted Mr Trudeau after a press conference at the Group of Seven summit in June.

Negotiators working on a new Nafta pact between the US and Canada are running out of time to strike a deal before the self-imposed deadline this weekend — which could open up the Trump administration to intense criticism from even those within the president’s own party.

US and Canadian negotiators have so far not been able to manage to overcome major disagreements over Canada's dairy management program, or on US tariffs on metal imports from Canada.

If that deadline is not met and the Trump administration goes forward with its stated plan to bring the deal that was finalized with Mexico before Congress, Mr Trump may be criticised for failing to reach a trilateral agreement with the countries currently in Nafta.

Mr Trump would need congressional approval for any major changes to Nafta, and needs to meet the Sunday deadline in order to allow Mr Nieto to sign the deal on 30 November, which is his last day in office before a new administration takes over.