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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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5

'Three Amigos' Summit May Not Be So Amicable

Canada, Mexico both angry about Obama protectionism

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(Newser) – President Obama is headed to Guadalajara today for his first "Three Amigos" summit with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, but the meeting may be less than completely friendly. Trade and drug trafficking will dominate the agenda, and the leaders have some grievances they plan to press, reports Reuters. Felipe Calderón wants Obama to resolve a simmering dispute involving Mexican trucks driving into the States, while Stephen Harper will voice Canadian anger over the stimulus package's "Buy American" rule.

One relief for Harper and Calderón is that Obama has walked away from renegotiating NAFTA, as he proposed during presidential campaign. In an interview with Spanish-language media, Obama said the focus has changed now that all three countries are grappling with recession. Also promised at the conference: a statement on swine flu, which first appeared in Mexico and continues to spread.

Barack Obama and Mexico's President Felipe Calderon chat before a state dinner in Mexico City earlier this year.
Barack Obama and Mexico's President Felipe Calderon chat before a state dinner in Mexico City earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)
Barack Obama waves as he walks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala, in Mexico City earlier this year.
Barack Obama waves as he walks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala, in Mexico City earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper walks with Barack Obama during the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, last month.
Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper walks with Barack Obama during the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, last month.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
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5 comments
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schmidtkoff
Aug 9, 09 8:17 AM CDT
the drug violence could be curtailed with decriminalization,medical prescriptions of some drugs. pot seems to be a shoo-in though it may take a while - but the tide is turning. i don't understand why countries get their knickers in a twist when we americans hail "buy American". so what if they call it protectionism - i call it americanism. we should support our own products and businesses. but it IS hard to find the "made in America" label. i know china is not mentioned in this article but the trade deficit with them has been going on for years. and the only reason we put up with it is because they own our debt. Reply
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Reader60610265
Aug 9, 09 10:02 AM CDT
As far as NAFTA is concerned it never should have been signed in the first place . If it were to go away tomorrow it wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least. Reply
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Radzyn
Aug 9, 09 10:14 AM CDT
Alienating our two closest neighbors is probably not the greatest idea. Reply
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DarkFrancis
Aug 9, 09 5:56 PM CDT
Oh it's all show, the Amero and the North American Union are on their way and in two weeks, possibly less, the world will be united by the Zionist something-or-other. Then the real Kenyan birth certificate will come out and the universe will implode. Reply
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justme
Aug 9, 09 7:02 PM CDT
Dark, that is either a bad version of dark humor, or you need to review your med schedule. Reply
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