Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been arbitrarily detained by China for two years, and Kovrig's wife says she hopes to see the new U.S. administration push for release.
Biden on Tuesday vowed to work with Canada to secure the safe release of Spavor and Kovrig, saying "humans are not bartering chips."
Speaking in French, Trudeau thanked Biden for his support in calling for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
"Canada's so-called declaration looks more like a confession in which the Canadian side admits its mistake in the Meng Wanzhou case," China's foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Harris underscored the "deep importance" of Canada as an economic and strategic partner in her first call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.
Canadians Julia and Kevin Garratt, who spent time detained in China, hope the state provides Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor the same holiday "kindness" they once received.
Germany's UN ambassador appealed for China to release Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor this Christmas at his final meeting of the UN Security Council.
Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in December 2018. China promptly seized Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor days later and has linked their fates repeatedly since.
The federal government is facing criticism after a report that senior civil servants opposed a military plan to stop training Chinese soldiers.
China has Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are being held on suspicion of national security crimes but neither it nor Canada has released specifics about their cases.
Canada's foreign affairs minister said the federal government won't comment on pending legal cases, but said Ottawa is following developments in Meng's case "very closely."
Two Canadians currently detained in China remain Canada's 'top priority,' the prime minister said Friday amid reports of a possible deal.
The Conservative foreign affairs critic told Champagne during a House of Commons committee meeting Tuesday that the government needs to show Canadians how it will deal with growing Chinese intimidation of Canadians within Canada's borders.
Testifying before the House of Commons Canada-China relations committee, Champagne is urging MPs not to give in to the temptation to tough talk that won't help Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.
The Canadian government said in a news release that Ambassador Dominic Barton met with former diplomat Michael Kovrig on Thursday and with businessman Michael Spavor on Nov. 10.
The president of the International Crisis Group and the United Nations ambassadors for Germany and Britain brought up Kovrig's case at a U.N. Security Council meeting.
China on Thursday denied it had taken two Canadian men hostage, and repeated a call for the release of a Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.
Conservative MP Michael Chong said this past week's virtual consular visits to Micahel Kovrig and Michael Spavor should have happened much sooner
China's foreign ministry spokesperson said it "firmly opposes the erroneous statements made by Canada."
Chong tells The Canadian Press that the fact the Chinese economy has largely reopened makes it clear that's an ``excuse'' to flout international conventions that guarantee consular access.