Obama to Meet Mexican, Canadian Counterparts Next Month

Pres. Obama will be meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in August to discuss "a broad range of issues," according to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico will meet at the next North American leaders summit to discuss the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). A statement from an e-mail by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed Pres. Obama’s agenda for August 2009: “The president will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, August 9-10 to attend the North American Leaders Summit with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The summit meeting will provide an opportunity for the United States, Mexico, and Canada to engage on a broad range of issues, including economic recovery and competitiveness in North America, our shared interest in energy and the environment, and cooperation among our governments to promote the safety and welfare of our citizens, including continued close cooperation to counter the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic.” There has been criticism that the SPP is too secretive and during Pres. Obama’s campaign, he stated that he would force the SPP to be more open about their meetings and discussions. Obama was also criticized when he claimed he would overhaul NAFTA; economic advisor Austan Goolsbe told Canadian officials that his “promises” were just campaign rhetoric. Conspiracies have been floating for several years now that there is a push towards a North American Union, an amalgamation that would be similar to the European Union in 1999.