The leaders of the United States (US), Canada, and Mexico gathered in Washington on Thursday for a trilateral summit for the first time since 2016, after relations between the North American neighbours took a hit under the Trump administration.
US President Joe Biden conducted a one-on-one meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then one with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Afterwards, the leaders convened for a trilateral summit to address trade, immigration, and climate change issues.
The trio emphasised their close ties in a joint statement, saying, “We are closely bound by history, culture, a shared environment, and economic and family ties, and strongly believe that by strengthening our partnership we will be able to respond to a widening range of global challenges.” The statement also reflected their commitment to reviving strained ties by “making democracy deliver.”
In a statement after the summit, the White House announced: “The leaders pledged to take concrete actions in support of our joint goals, to include ending the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing global health; fostering competitiveness and creating the conditions for equitable growth, and coordinating a regional response to migration.”
The pledge also included a North American plan to reduce methane emission, a collective commitment to donate COVID-19 vaccines to Latin American and the Caribbean nations, and a commitment to develop a coordinated regional response to “irregular migration” from Latin America.
Celebrating Thursday’s summit in a statement, Trudeau said, “Strengthening our partnership with the United States and Mexico will create new opportunities for economic growth for our people and ensure North America remains the most competitive region in the world.”
Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard described developments at the summit as “successful” while adding that “there is an ideological, political affinity and good chemistry between the three, and that is going to mean a new stage in the relationship.”
Despite the display of closeness, tensions between the three North American neighbours was abundantly present.
Biden’s new spending plan offers Americans a significant tax credit for buying electric cars. But according to Trudeau, the credit presents a major problem for Canadian car manufacturers.
“The Americans are very aware of Canada’s position on this and our concerns around it, and quite frankly the threats it poses to over 50 years of integrated auto-making in our two countries which was mostly reaffirmed in the Canada, US, Mexico free trade agreement, the new NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement),” Trudeau said after the summit.
The Mexican President welcomed Biden’s social and infrastructure spending that provided significant funding to overhaul the immigration system. However, López Obrador has suggested on multiple occasions that the US expand its temporary work visa programme so that Mexican labourers can work in the US without being considered illegal. “Why not study the workforce demand and open the migratory flow in an orderly manner?” he said on Thursday.
Both Canada and the US also raised concerns over Mexico’s climate commitments after the Mexican leader skipped this month’s United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow.
As relations improve between the “three-amigos,” they will meet again next year in Mexico to further discuss trilateral collaboration.
US, Canada, Mexico Leaders Meet After 5 Years To Address Trade, Immigration, Climate
The Biden administration engaged in reviving relations between the “three amigos” through dialogue and a series of collaborative agreements on trade, immigration, climate, and COVID-19.
November 19, 2021
(L-R) Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, US President Joe Biden, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau IMAGE SOURCE: AP NEWS