Canada-U.S. relations took centre stage at the federal cabinet retreat in Halifax Tuesday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his team wrap up the third and final day of their annual end-of-summer meetings.

Eight months ago Trudeau launched a renewed Team Canada approach, restoring the game plan initiated under the first Donald Trump presidency. That included a full-court press on Canadian interests with those who had influence around Trump, including Republicans in Congress, state governments and business leaders.