Canada Hosts Obama’s First Foreign Trip « BNN

Canada Hosts Obama’s First Foreign Trip

America’s northern neighbor was the setting for Barack Obama’s first foreign trip since taking oath as president. On February 19, the US president flew to Ottawa, Canada for an introductory meeting with the nation’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

The meeting involved talks about high-stakes topics for the two countries. Throughout the seven-hour visit, both leaders brought up sensitive topics like energy security, environmental conservatism, and war.

Even though no seminal negotiations are likely to arise from the recently concluded meeting, it may have covered the prospect of reopening the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The NAFTA is a hotly debated 1994 trade pact binding the economies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

A more current subject that may have been in the agenda is the “Buy American” provision of President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill. Canada is also contending with more restrictive American regulations regarding labels on imported food.

Presently, Canada is still the world’s largest importer of American goods next to China. Overall, Canada and the US make the biggest trading partnership in the world, with over US$1.6 billion in goods penetrating their shared borders every day.

For one, the US imports more oil and natural gas from Canada than any other country. It consequently brings to the fore a timely discussion on energy security and climate change. For this matter, President Obama brought along Carol Browner, his energy and climate coordinator.

Even during the campaign, President Obama has been oft cited to favor renewable energy.

In anticipation of the visit, green activists tried to steer the American President’s influence against Canada’s gigantic oil sands in Alberta. Recently, Greenpeace put up huge banners persuading the President not to buy oil sourced from Alberta tar sands. Scientists say oil extraction from tar sands emits dangerous greenhouse gases.

On another front, President Obama’s visit was expected to pitch a new strategy on Afghanistan, one with more diplomacy, to PM Harper. Earlier, Obama cajoled NATO members into his cause in Afghanistan, a war-ravaged nation facing resurgence in insurrection. The President is dispatching 17,000 additional combat troops to the country.

Canada, however, has had enough of the Afghan conflict, which has so far claimed the lives of 111 Canadians. By 2011, Canada will have yanked its 2,800 troops off Afghanistan.

President Obama’s visit somehow signaled a fresh start for both countries. For the United States, it became the first step in its efforts to rebuilding the image of the country. German Marshall Fund foreign policy director John K. Glenn believes that the President’s recent visit to the US’ closest neighbor is a good start.