U.S.-Canada Relations Front and Center
For many years the tradition for a new American President has been to make Canada his first international visit. This underscores the close relationship between the neighboring countries.
President Obama and Ottawa from the American side of the St. Lawrence River
We share a long, un-guarded border with Canada, and we also share a common British heritage that covers a wide swath of commonality in language, legal system, political tradition and general culture. We also trade together. We export more to Canada than any other country, and Canada sells 33% of its GDP to Americans. There is good reason Canada gets the first Presidential visit, and I am glad Mr. Obama has continued the tradition today when Air Force One touches down on Canadian soil.
Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings
There will be much of the plate for Mr. Obama and Mr. Stephan Harper, Canada’s Prime Minister, to discuss. The traveling companions of Mr. Obama speak volumes about the agenda: Larry Summers, Mr. Obama’s economic coordinator, Ms Carol Browner, the energy and climate coordinator. U.S. National Security Adviser Jim Jones and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
With the economies of both nations in a terrible state, it is not a surprise that the economy and employment will probably be the highest order on their agenda. Part of this agenda also sloshes over into oil, which Canada has plenty of and more to develop if environmental problems with the mining and refining process of Canadian tar sands can be overcome.
Also, something Mr. Obama will have to overcome is the ”Buy America” provisions that Democrats inserted in the recently passed stimulus bill. This feature also has Europe, China and Japan worried. Taken with some of Mr. Obama’s strong anti-NAFTA campaign rhetoric, Mr. Harper will need some reassurance of America’s commitment to maintaining free trade between the two countries.
These issues have already been at least partially addressed by Mr. Obama in recent public statements and in his insistence with Democrats that the “Buy America” provisions in the stimulus bill be tempered to preclude violating existing treaties. This gets him off the hook in many ways, since trade with Canada and Mexico is subject to NAFTA provisions and World Trade Organization rules. Mr. Obama has also stated recently that it was not in the interest of either Canada or America to reduce trade between the two countries.
There will be some security issues to discuss. Canada has about 2,800 troops in Afghanistan, and it would be important to Mr. Obama that Canada commit to keeping a presence there during the American troop buildup.
Mr. Obama is popular in Canada, as Mr. Bush was not. I hope this will help him and Prime Minister Harper have a productive meeting and a warm relationship
