U.S. President George W. Bush is hosting the leaders of Mexico and Canada in New Orleans for an annual summit dominated by discussions on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The three North American countries already share the largest trading partnership in the world, totaling almost $1 trillion a year. Before the two-day summit that will conclude later today, Bush said he plans to talk to Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper about expanding trade in the Western Hemisphere at a time of rising anti-trade sentiment. Bush and Calderon on Monday praised the re-opening of the Mexican consulate in New Orleans as a sign of close relations between the neighboring countries and a reason to celebrate the rebirth of the city following Hurricane Katrina. “I chose New Orleans for our meetings with Mexico and Canada because I wanted to send a clear signal to the people of my country that New Orleans is open for business, " Bush said at the North American summit.
