North American summit addresses trade, safety

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Afghanistan point of contention
Both Bush and Harper sidestepped a question about whether Canada should continue its mission in Afghanistan. Canada has 2,500 troops there, and Harper has said the mission will not be extended beyond 2009 without a consensus in Parliament.

Bush thanked Canada for its contribution of troops as well as for its help in building institutions to foster democracy.

“The contribution has been vast and it has been robust, and this government, along with this parliament, will make decisions about what’s best for the Canadian people and the people of Afghanistan,” Bush said.

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Harper said he thought that Canada’s presence has “made a real difference,” but that the Parliament will make its decision about whether it wants to prolong the mission.

Agreements on some fronts
In a joint statement, the leaders agreed to:

Develop common protocols through the Canada-Mexico-United States Emergency Management Council to manage the movement of goods and people, including emergency responders, across borders during a natural or man-made emergency, such as a terrorist attack or outbreak of avian flu.
Advance multilateral trade liberalization through a successful conclusion to the World Trade Organization Doha Round of negotiations.
Strengthen cooperation on identifying and stopping unsafe food and products before they enter the three countries.
Look for ways to cooperate on national auto fuel efficiency standards and work together on developing clean energy technologies and resolving global warming.
Streamline regulations and make them compatible to enhance the flow of trade on the continent and eliminate redundant testing and certification requirements.
Better measure the scope of and improve the detection and deterrence of counterfeiting and piracy in North America. Expand public awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights in protecting North American economies and consumer health.
Develop a plan to respond to increasing pressures on the U.S., Mexican and Canada competitiveness in the global markets.