TOLUCA, Mexico (AP) — Pressed by North American allies on an array of politically fraught issues, President Barack Obama on Wednesday vowed to press ahead with stalled efforts to expand trade agreements for the Americas into Asia and overhaul fractured U.S. immigration laws. But Obama made no promises to frustrated Canadian leaders about his long-anticipated decision on the Keystone XL pipeline.
Closing a day of talks with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Obama said the North American partners must maintain their “competitive advantage” on trade, in part by expanding into the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. While Obama acknowledged that “elements in my party” oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, he disputed the notion that Democratic concerns would derail the agreement.
