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Nafta summit begins amid protests Nafta in trade and security talks
(about 10 hours later)
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Quebec as the leaders of Canada, the US and Mexico meet in a summit set to be dominated by trade and security. Talks between the US, Mexico and Canada are under way in Quebec as they aim to discuss trade and security.
Plans to modernise the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) will be discussed as will recent stock market turbulence and energy issues. Plans to modernise the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) are on the agenda as well as market volatility.
Nafta is under fire in the US for costing manufacturing jobs, despite generating $700bn in trilateral trade. More than 2,000 people turned up to protest on Monday, with critics fearing that a stronger Nafta would come at the cost of national sovereignty.
But high levels of security and police in riot gear has prevented protestors from disrupting the event's first day.
In the United States opponents have argued that Nafta has undermined manufacturing jobs, despite generating $700bn in trilateral trade.
Police have blocked demonstrations within 15 miles of the summit complex.Police have blocked demonstrations within 15 miles of the summit complex.
PartnershipPartnership
President George W Bush, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper are meeting in Montebello, a 90-minute drive from Ottawa. US President George W Bush, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper are meeting in Montebello, a 90-minute drive from Ottawa.
Demonstrators marched to the Canadian Parliament on Sunday in protest against the Iraq war, globalisation and the escalating battle for control of the resource-rich Arctic region.Demonstrators marched to the Canadian Parliament on Sunday in protest against the Iraq war, globalisation and the escalating battle for control of the resource-rich Arctic region.
NAFTA FACTS Started in 1994Allows free trade between US, Canada and MexicoTrade between partners grew at over 10% per yearSide agreements regulate environment, labourCritics say 1m US manufacturing jobs were lostNAFTA FACTS Started in 1994Allows free trade between US, Canada and MexicoTrade between partners grew at over 10% per yearSide agreements regulate environment, labourCritics say 1m US manufacturing jobs were lost
Maude Barlow, from the Council of Canadians pressure group, said Nafta's trade and security partnership was "a blueprint for the wrong model in North America".Maude Barlow, from the Council of Canadians pressure group, said Nafta's trade and security partnership was "a blueprint for the wrong model in North America".
"The whole world is rejecting this notion of unlimited growth," she said."The whole world is rejecting this notion of unlimited growth," she said.
Efforts to update Nafta, a central plank of a broad-ranging Security and Prosperity Partnership agreed by the trio in 2005, will be central to the talks.Efforts to update Nafta, a central plank of a broad-ranging Security and Prosperity Partnership agreed by the trio in 2005, will be central to the talks.
Critics of Nafta and other free trade deals argue that they have destroyed jobs in poorer countries and damaged the environment.Critics of Nafta and other free trade deals argue that they have destroyed jobs in poorer countries and damaged the environment.
Trade between the three partners has increased by more than 10% a year since the agreement, which paved the way for tariffs to be cut on key products, was ratified in 1994.Trade between the three partners has increased by more than 10% a year since the agreement, which paved the way for tariffs to be cut on key products, was ratified in 1994.
Protectionist pressuresProtectionist pressures
Growing protectionist sentiment in Washington has meant Nafta and other free trade agreements have come under growing scrutiny.Growing protectionist sentiment in Washington has meant Nafta and other free trade agreements have come under growing scrutiny.
Leading Democrat Presidential candidates have all attacked the agreement as unfair because US labour laws more strictly enforced than those of its trading partners.Leading Democrat Presidential candidates have all attacked the agreement as unfair because US labour laws more strictly enforced than those of its trading partners.
There is also unease about Nafta in Mexico with farmers opposed to the imminent liberalisation of the maize industry to corn imports from the US.There is also unease about Nafta in Mexico with farmers opposed to the imminent liberalisation of the maize industry to corn imports from the US.
Other issues on the agenda include co-operation over security and energy issues, global economic uncertainty and the need for agreed regional standards on product safety following recalls of Chinese-made goods in recent months.Other issues on the agenda include co-operation over security and energy issues, global economic uncertainty and the need for agreed regional standards on product safety following recalls of Chinese-made goods in recent months.
"I am quite confident that they will be having a wide-ranging discussion on the economy," said a Canadian official."I am quite confident that they will be having a wide-ranging discussion on the economy," said a Canadian official.