After a touching (well, hand-holding) display with UK Prime Minister Theresa May and a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that seemed to mostly take place at Mar-a-Lago - or, as the administration prefers, 'the Winter White House' - US President Donald Trump shook hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday (13 February).

The two men have a large age gap —Trump is 70 while Trudeau is 45 — and harbour vastly differing world views. The protectionist, pro-business Trump is likely to clash behind closed doors with the outwardly liberal Trudeau, who was noted for his warm 'bromance' with Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama.

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However, a joint statement from the two leaders said that they had "affirmed their longstanding commitment to close cooperation in addressing both the challenges facing our two countries and problems around the world".

It went on to mention that Canada is the "most important foreign market for thirty-five U.S. States" and said both countries will encourage opportunities for companies to invest, "given our shared focus on infrastructure investments".

Aside from general affirmations of cooperation and a name-check for NATO, a body that Trump has openly and unprecedentedly criticised, the statement also mentions the creation of a United States-Canada Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. This is an initiative they say will "promote the growth of women-owned enterprises and further contribute to our overall economic growth and competitiveness, as well as the enhanced integration of our economies".

Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau are chalk and cheese – but Canada and the US need each other

Whether or not it was Trudeau's youthful wile or wit that saw a body designed to encourage women become an important part of the bilateral meetings, we might never be sure. To help us gain some insight, we asked body language expert and psychologist Judi James for the run down.

Generation gap

As the cars rolled up and the US's oldest president stepped out of the White House to greet Canada's youngest PM, there was an air of friendliness mixed with rivalry about their greeting ritual. Trudeau had the cool, suave demeanor of Mad Men's Don Draper and was happy to lean forward in an act of polite deference, meaning the two men's torsos were front-on with the handshake pinned in the middle.

Keeping the theme of retro rivalry alive, Trump appeared to have cracked open the good old 80's power shake, with his hand firmly on top in the clasp and at an angle that was almost palm-down horizontal. This should have implied he was taking no nonsense from the young whippersnapper - but Trudeau fought back with a power-pat.

Both men patted one another's arms as they shook, but it was Trudeau's pat that landed on the bicep as though taking the measure of his host's muscle-power. Trudeau's pat was also camera-side, meaning he emerged looking like the more powerful leader, and when Trump motioned with one hand that they should pose for the camera Trudeau mimicked the gesture to make it look like it was his show. Overall then, two leaders happy to perform upbeat friendliness but with some status tussling and jostling (won by Trudeau) going on under the surface.

Once in the Oval Office, though, the body language mood appeared to have changed. Trudeau sat in his chair sporting a rictus smile that looked oddly shy as he rested one arm on the arm of his chair. Trump adopted his usual man-splay but he looked strangely disconnected from the formalities with his skewed tie and his steepled fingers tapping, as though either bored or impatient to get on with things.

Judi James is a British language expert, psychologist and published author who has appeared on Big Brother's Bit On The Side, Xtra Factor, BBC News, CNN and Sky News amongst other programmes.

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