Former prime minister Stephen Harper visited the west wing of the White House on Monday, at a time of heightened tension between the Canadian and U.S. governments.

U.S. media report that Harper met White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow. Harper did not publicly confirm that meeting, but he did share a photo of his

that he met with International Republican Institute President Daniel Twining 鈥渢o discuss building democracy around the world.鈥�

that Harper was expected to meet Kudlow, as well as American National Security Adviser John Bolton, during his trip to Washington, D.C.

The trip came as a surprise to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 government, which has recently been the target of criticism by U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration over trade.

on steel, aluminum and more than 70 other U.S. goods on Sunday, in a dollar-for-dollar response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made steel and aluminum that began on June 1.

At a briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders did not answer a reporter who asked why Harper was at the White House.

However, she did address a question about Canada鈥檚 tariffs.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been very nice to Canada for many years and they鈥檝e taken advantage of that, particularly advantage of our farmers,鈥� Sanders said.

鈥淎t the G7, the president actually proposed that they get rid of all tariffs and drop all barriers and have really great trade and they refused that,鈥� Sanders added.

Since resigning as leader of the Conservative Party after his 2015 electoral defeat, Harper has written a book, started a consultancy firm and is serving as Chair of the International Democrat Union (ID), an alliance of centre-right political parties.

Lori Williams, a professor of political science at Mount Royal University, said that meeting Bolton and Kudlow during the trade dispute could be 鈥渧ery significant鈥� considering that Trump鈥檚 tariffs were created on national security grounds.

Although many have expressed concern that Harper could undermine the efforts of the Trudeau government, Williams tells 麻豆影视 Channel that Harper appeared careful not to do so in a recent interview on Fox News.

鈥淥n Fox, he emphasized the mutual benefits of economic trade between Canada and the United States and focused on the fact that we鈥檙e national security allies and not adversaries, distinguishing us from China and focusing on our shared interests,鈥� Williams said.

鈥淗e鈥檚 part of an international community still that鈥檚 centre-right, provides advice and policy recommendations and so forth, and from that position may be able to appeal to conservative advisers perhaps in way that Prime Minister Trudeau cannot,鈥� she added.