North America Trade Partners Turn Their Attention Toward Asia

Leaders from the US, Canada and Mexico will meet this week to discuss NAFTA improvements and potential to reach Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

Feb. 17, 2014 Agence France-Presse

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's president hosts the leaders of the United States and Canada on Wednesday...President Enrique Pena Nieto will welcome U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the ornate government palace of Mexico State in the city of Toluca, his homeland.

While Mexico's drug violence has stolen the spotlight in past summits, Pena Nieto will likely seek to turn attention to economic matters and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which turned 20 in January...the summit comes amid some friction.

Mexico is fuming over Canada's refusal to end visa requirements which make it complicated for Mexicans to visit. Pena Nieto will have a chance to address the issue on Tuesday because Harper will already be in Mexico...The Canadian government, meanwhile, is pressing the United States to finally make up its mind about the Keystone XL pipeline, a controversial project that would bring oil from Canada to Texas, which has met massive objections from environmentalists.

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U.S. officials say the TPP could prompt the North American partners to agree on labor and environmental standards that have lacked within NAFTA.

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