Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/MEXICO CITY: Leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico have agreed to set aside simmering trade tensions and boost cooperation in clean energy and strengthen regional economic integration.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador welcomed US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the “Three Amigos” summit at the National Palace in Mexico City.
Following the meeting, Biden stated that the three nations were working “to expand our cooperation on supply chains and essential minerals… to build the technologies of tomorrow right here in North America.”
Voyage to become ‘clean energy powerhouse’
Biden said that North America could become a “clean energy powerhouse” and a “global leader in addressing the climate crisis” through cooperation in areas such as electric vehicles.
Trudeau said the region had a “great opportunity” to strengthen its economy by building a “clean economy.”
In 2021, Biden revived the “Three Amigos,” seeking to restore normalcy to the three-way partnership after his predecessor Donald Trump shelved the regional summit. Relations between Biden and Lopez Obrador have been smoother and throughout their discussions on Tuesday, the leaders showed agreement and emphasized their willingness to work together.
According to Lopez Obrador, the three nations have decided to increase regional commerce to become “increasingly self-sufficient” and less dependent on goods from elsewhere.
According to the US president, stronger regional supply chains would ensure that “no one can arbitrarily hold us back or the pandemic in Asia lead us not to have access to vital parts that we need to do anything from construct vehicles to so many other things.”
Agreement on a standard operating plan
The three leaders agreed to create a standard operating plan, install international border charging stations for EVs, and create a clean North American hydrogen market.
Police scuffled with protesters near the summit venue, holding placards with slogans like “No more mass deportations and Migration is a human right.”
Amnesty International urged the North American leaders to “stop implementing callous shared migration policies” and to make the rights of refugees and migrants a “top priority” at their meeting.
According to Erika Guevara-Rosas, director of Amnesty International’s Americas division, “Protecting the human rights of migrants and refugees is important as the number of people escaping violence and persecution continues to climb.”
The two leaders agreed to keep in touch with their allies on the UN Security Council regarding the following steps to promote stability in Haiti, including assistance for the Haitian National Police, according to a statement from the White House.
