Canada on Wednesday cautiously welcomed President Barack Obama's remarks criticizing protectionism but said it would still work closely with Washington to defeat a “Buy American” provision in stimulus legislation in Congress. “I'm encouraged to hear what the president had to say related to his concerns about protectionism and their legislation,” Trade Minister Stockwell Day told reporters in Ottawa. “It doesn't mean that we're necessarily [safe] yet in terms of making sure we're going to be absolved of any negative effects of this legislation.” Obama said Tuesday he would try to change the “Buy American” measure in his $825 billion economic stimulus package that allows only U.S.-made steel and iron to be used in public-works projects funded by the legislation. Canada's government has lobbied to either have the provision withdrawn completely or for Canada to be exempt from it, arguing it would hurt the country's exporters and result in further job losses. Day reiterated that he hoped the two countries can resolve the matter before Obama visits Ottawa on February 19.
