Leaders of Canada, Britain discuss global trade, Brexit

OTTAWA - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday had a phone conversation with his British counterpart Theresa May, Trudeau's office said.

The two heads of government discussed the upcoming G20 summit in Buenos Aires and underscored the importance of the rules-based international trading system, said the office in a news release.

It said that the two sides also discussed the Brexit negotiations, with the Canadian leader reaffirming his commitment to ensuring a "seamless transition" of their bilateral relations, particularly in terms of free trade, following Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

The two leaders also discussed the need for transparency and accountability on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, emphasizing the critical importance of supporting freedom of the press, the office said in the release.