by Patrick Kilbride
 
Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama participated in his first North American Leaders’ Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, along with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The three leaders emphasized, in the words of Prime Minister Harper, that "we are independent and interdependent both." A Joint Statement by North American Leaders referenced H1N1 coordination; global economic recovery; economic integration, including border facilitation, intellectual property protection, and regulatory cooperation; trade, including labor and environment; climate change; rule of law and security; democracy; and, citizen participation.

H1N1 Flu Virus – Leaders took credit for a well-coordinated, responsible and transparent response to the H1N1 outbreak that avoided unnecessary interruption of trade and travel. (North American Leaders’ Declaration on H1N1)

Global Economic Recovery – Emphasized ongoing multilateral efforts to promote economic recovery, and pointed to the importance of the upcoming G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh – notably without reference to renewing the pledge to reject protectionism.

Economic Cooperation – Noted investments in border infrastructure in support of trade facilitation and security, as well as hailing cooperation to protect intellectual property rights, and praising progress made toward the reduction of "unnecessary regulatory differences."  According to the Statement:

 “We commend the progress achieved on reducing unnecessary regulatory differences and have instructed our respective Ministers to continue this work by building on the previous efforts, developing focused priorities and a specific timeline.” 

Such efforts previously fell under the umbrella of the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

Trade – No new initiatives and no deliverables, but a marker was laid down related to NAFTA labor and environment side agreements.

Energy and Climate Change – Outlines perhaps the most direct and substantive commitments to come out of the Summit, expressed in some detail through a separate "North American Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change and Clean Energy."

Rule of Law and Security – Promised to support the Government of Mexico and the Mexican people in confronting criminal drug cartels, and in recognition of broader regional problems noted the need for “greater cooperation and coordination … with our neighbors in Central America and the Caribbean.”

Democracy – The leaders emphasized their commitment to democratic institutions and the rule of law throughout the Americas, and especially with respect to the ongoing governance crisis in Honduras.

Citizen Participation – According to the Statement: “We welcome the contributions of businesses… ,” as well as “those of civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, academics, experts, and others.”  (This year’s private sector contribution from the North American Competiveness Council, made up of Canadian, Mexican and U.S. companies).

 2010 Summit – "President Calderon and President Obama welcome Prime Minister Harper’s offer to host the next North American Leaders’ Summit in 2010."

In its Finest Hour, Will SPP Fade Away? – Yesterday, North American leaders highlighted the coordinated, trilateral response to the H1N1 virus, citing it as "a global example of cooperation." This level of cooperation was made possible by the mechanisms put in place through the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the same framework that is now quietly being abandoned. Fare thee well, SPP.  I hardly knew ye.

And finally -- Quotes of Note from the Summit Press Conference -- with Kilbride Translation (KT) in italics:

President Calderon:

"The struggles we have led in Mexico for the rule of law and the security of our Mexican people forces us to stop the traffic of weapons and money that go from north to south that strengthen and nourish organized crime gangs.  The notion of responsibility, co-responsibility, accountability, the exchange of information, and the building of our institutions should be the guidelines for our cooperation."

Translation: It’s your fault, too, and you’d better help.

"We recognize that it is essential to abide by NAFTA and to resolve the pending topics that impede us to reach greater regional competitiveness."

Translation: It’s time to resolve the cross-border trucking issue.

"[I]t is important to see how we are going to fulfill our commitments in regard to the environment and in regard to our labor domains linked to the commercial agreements."

Translation: President Obama laid down a marker. Stay tuned for more.

"Now, in regard to migration … it is unthinkable to see that the U.S., the main power, the main economic power in the world, without the contribution of the Mexican laborers and workers…. The only way to have sustained progress throughout the North American region, especially, is allowing for the natural economic processes, for integration can happen, and this implies a labor mobility that cannot be determined by mandate or decree."

Translation: Don’t forget, we’re in it together.

President Obama:

"Because so much of our common prosperity and millions of jobs depend on trade that flows across our borders - - billions of dollars worth of trade every day - - we reaffirmed the need to reject protectionism.… we need to expand that trade, not restrict it."

Translation: OK, OK, I get it…

"[W]ith respect to the "Buy American" provisions, I want to assure you that your Prime Minister raises it with me every time I see him…. [but] "[W]e have not seen some sweeping steps toward protectionism."

Translation: Maybe.

"The biggest, by far, violators of human rights right now are the cartels themselves that are kidnapping people and encouraging corruption in these regions.  That’s what needs to be stopped."

Translation: I understand the problem and the urgency.  We’ll get you the aid.

Prime Minister Harper:

"From the Canadian perspective, we look at our border as a line between the two closest countries on Earth…. [T]here is no such thing as a threat to the security of the United States which is not a threat to the security of Canada…. We want to address all the same security issues that the United States wants to address, and we want to do so in such a way that doesn’t impede commerce and doesn’t impede the great social interaction which has made our two countries so close over the last decades."

Translation: Don’t forget who your friends are.