North American leaders love relationships but fail to resolve conflicts | Stories by Joe Biden

The leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico have praised their strengthened agreement after their first meeting in five years, but trade disputes with refugees remain unresolved.

The so-called “Three Amigo” conference in Washington, DC Thursday was the first of its kind since 2016, after resigning when Donald Trump took over the presidency.

“Together as North America we are strong, I look forward to restoring our region, our infrastructure, and our future as a united people,” said US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. unanimous words after the meeting.

They agreed to meet again next year, this time in Mexico.

Biden, who took office in January, sought to reaffirm strong ties with Canada and Mexico as part of Washington’s efforts to renew diplomatic relations and support for international organizations.

The three countries are bound by US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement, which runs $ 1.5 trillion annually on North American business.

After the meeting, Biden said the issues discussed, including trade, migration, climate change, and the coronavirus epidemic, could be addressed “if only we could take the time to talk to each other, working together”.

Trudeau praised the “strong partnership” between the three countries, while Lopez Obrador praised Biden’s resumption, saying “our relationship should be based on respect”.

Unresolved disputes

While it was good, the conference provided a few successes on a number of challenging topics that continue the dogs ’relationship as leaders. check back since the difficult years of Trump.

In addition to the open debate with Trudeau, Trump threatened to abandon the free trade deal and impose a tax on Canadian aluminum and steel.

He also declared a global catastrophe on the Mexican border and used angry language and contempt for refugees crossing the border with Mexico, even though he had formed an alliance with Lopez Obrador.

However, Canada and Mexico see similarities in Trump’s “America First” approach in some of Biden’s policies, especially as he seeks to strengthen the US industrial sector.

Mexico and Canada have been growing on Biden’s idea of ​​a tax credit encouraging US to make electric vehicles. Cars and trucks are the best-sellers among the three countries

On Thursday, Trudeau told reporters that Ottawa “will continue to work hard to not only enlighten what we have but to find answers” at the conference did not change Biden’s mind.

Another valid point is Biden’s “Buy American” policy of the federal government in its own right planning to change its largest fleet of vehicles, which Canada called an unidentified security guard.

Mexico’s finance minister, Tatiana Clouthier, who attended Thursday’s meeting, has already called on the US to drop its “Buy American” list and focus on “Buy North America”.

Mexico-US agreement

In a brief statement to reporters at a meeting between Biden and Lopez Obrador – the first since the US president took office – the two also said the move was one of the main issues they were discussing.

The Biden government has been struggling with a to climb about unlicensed border crossings. Meanwhile, Mexico has long complained that immigration laws impose an unreasonable burden on its officials.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the US had agreed to boost investment in Central America and development in southern Mexico to create opportunities and help reduce migration. The Biden government later confirmed inflation, but did not specify the amount.

The White House later released a series of “key requirements” for the conference, including agreements between Canada and Mexico to improve global vaccine offerings, North America’s plans to reduce methane emissions, and a way for the three countries to boost vaccination activities. weaknesses.

The leaders also pledged to ban the export of forced labor, a process that Biden looks to China. Western political and political activists have criticized China for using coercion in the western region of Xinjiang, which Beijing denies.