GUADALAJARA, Mexico — It is affectionately called the “Three Amigos” summit. But the trio of North American leaders are meeting here today at a time when relations among their countries are strained by disputes over trade issues and travel restrictions that are not likely to be resolved in the short flurry of working dinners and conferences.
President Barack Obama arrived Sunday on his second official visit this year and quickly headed for a private meeting with his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon, who was expected to press for a commitment to allow Mexican trucks to operate within the United States. America’s refusal to let the trucks move cargo within its borders has sparked punitive action by Mexico and cries of protectionism.
For its part, the government of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is displeased with “Buy American” provisions in the stimulus bill Obama signed into law in February. Canada and Mexico are sparring over Ottawa’s requirement that visitors from Mexico obtain visas — triggering a retaliatory requirement that officials working in Mexico for Canada also acquire visas.
In the days before today’s brief summit, officials from all three countries downplayed expectations that sessions would settle lingering grievances. But they stressed that given their mutual interest in economic recovery and social stability, and the deep integration of their three economies, it is crucial for the leaders to keep talking.
“I think you get in trouble when you wait too long before talking to your neighbors, and we … want to make sure that we have a regular dialogue with them,” said national security adviser James Jones, briefing reporters at the White House last week.
Mexico doesn’t want its well-publicized drug war to dominate the conference. Mexican leaders are eager instead to emphasize trade issues, protectionism and North America’s ability to compete as a commercial bloc in the global market.
The recession has hit Mexico hard with all of its major sources of income — including oil and manufacturing — in dramatic decline. Mexico’s economy is expected to contract this year by about 7 percent.
Mexico is the United States’ third-largest trading partner; Canada is No. 1.
Espinosa said Calderon would press Canada to remove the new visa requirement for Mexicans traveling in Canada. But Harper has already said his government won’t budge, so the impasse remains.
The agenda also includes the economic downturn, clean energy and citizen safety. The latter is a special focus of a Mexican government that is waging a struggle with powerful drug cartels.
Mexican officials seem to be running out of patience over the trucking dispute. As part of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. had agreed to let Mexican trucks deliver cargo in the U.S. as early as the mid-1990s. But objections from labor unions representing U.S. truckers, coupled with safety concerns expressed by Congress, led to perpetual delays.
A pilot trucking project approved in George W. Bush’s administration was terminated by Congress earlier this year. In reprisal, Mexico imposed tariffs on $2.4 billion worth of U.S. goods.
Mexico wants the disagreement resolved no later than the end of the year.
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