MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

NAFTA “three amigos” agree agenda remains undisturbed

PM S. Harper, US Pte. G. Bush and Mexican Pte. F. Calderon during the Security and Prosperity Partner Summit

United States President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderón pledged closer economic and security relationships but disagreements were also present as was a “lame duck” atmosphere.

The two days "Three Amigos Summit", as the Montebello Castle, Quebec meeting was described tried to refresh links among North American Free Trade Association members which critics say the US neglected after the September 11 attacks. Both Harper and Calderon were interested in furthering the trade relationship, although neither wanted to appear too close to Bush, who is unpopular in both of their countries and is in the last leg of his presidency. Bush said the United States was discussing with Mexico a "robust" package of aid to help combat drug trafficking but details were still being worked out. Calderón said he told Bush that Mexico did not want US soldiers on the ground as part of any drug enforcement strategy, as has happened in other countries. Mexico has been frustrated by increasingly tough US border policies and by the collapse in Congress of a push to overhaul US immigration laws. Bush said border and migration were complicated issues. The three leaders expressed confidence in their financial systems despite turmoil in US markets. Critics say broadening economic ties among the three trading partners would erode national sovereignty and closer anti-terrorism cooperation could lead to human rights abuses. A joint statement said a North American plan for avian and pandemic influenza and an intellectual property action strategy had been completed. Harper discussed Canada's concerns about Russia's symbolic laying of claim to the North Pole, where it placed a flag on the seabed. Canada claims sovereignty over the Northwest Passage of the Arctic, but the United States views it as an international strait.