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'Three amigos' Mexico summit to focus on trade
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-09 16:17

A top White House official, Michael Froman, told reporters the Obama administration is "quite focused" on the issue and was working with the US Congress to resolve safety issues.

'Three amigos' Mexico summit to focus on trade

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks at Royal Roads University just outside Victoria, British Colunmbia August 5, 2009. [Agencies] 'Three amigos' Mexico summit to focus on trade

CARTEL VIOLENCE

Canadian officials are expected to raise their concerns about "Buy American" elements of a $787 billion economic stimulus bill that they fear could shut out Canadian companies from US construction contracts funded by the stimulus.

Canada is the United States' largest trading partner.

'Three amigos' Mexico summit to focus on trade

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon speaks during a news conference at the presidential house in San Jose July 30, 2009. [Agencies] 'Three amigos' Mexico summit to focus on trade

Froman said the Obama administration was talking to Canada and other nations "to try and implement the 'Buy American' provision in a way consistent with the law, consistent with our international obligations, while minimizing disruption to trade."

Obama took a potential sore point off the table ahead of his trip: That he might be willing to unilaterally reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) treaty as he had talked about on the campaign trail last year.

Given the weakened economies of the three nations, he told Hispanic reporters on Friday, it is not the time to try to add enforceable labor and environmental protections to the treaty as some in his Democratic Party would prefer.

"In terms of refining some of our agreements, that is not where everyone's focus is right now because we are in the middle of a very difficult economic situation," Obama said, although he added that he was still interested in learning how to improve the treaty.

Another top issue at the summit is what to do about Mexican drug gangs who are killing rivals in record numbers, despite Calderon's three-year army assault on the cartels.

The death rate this year from the violence is about a third higher than in 2008, and police in the United States and as far north as the western Canadian city of Vancouver have blamed the Mexican traffickers for crime.

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Obama is backing Calderon's efforts.

"He is doing the right thing by going after them and he has done so with tremendous courage," Obama said.

Obama promised full support to Calderon during a visit in April, but Mexico complains that anti-drug equipment and training are taking too long to arrive and hopes the summit will move things ahead.

The leaders also promise a statement on H1N1 swine flu and will jointly address climate change as they prepare for major international talks in Copenhagen in December.

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