“We believe it is an aggressive goal, but that it is achievable continent-wide”, Brian Deese, senior advisor to US President Barack Obama, said on June 27.
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“This move will make it easier for our Mexican friends to visit Canada while growing our local economies and strengthening our communities”, Trudeau told a news conference on Parliament Hill, Pena Nieto standing alongside.
President Barack Obama talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Enrique Peña Nieto of MexicoThe U.S. and Mexico will commit to joining Canada in boosting their use of wind, solar and other carbon-free sources of electricity, helping North America meet an ambitious goal of generating at least 50 percent of its energy from “clean” sources by 2025.
Trudeau hosted a banquet for the Mexican president Monday in Toronto, where the prime minister said discussions between the two leaders would touch on the flow of people and goods between their countries.
The United States is at 33 percent, most of that coming from nuclear plants, while Mexico is at 18 percent, according to Cameron Ahmad, a spokesman for Trudeau.
Canadian beef exports – valued at C$2.2 billion ($1.7 billion) globally in 2015 – face restrictions in Mexico, which largely allows products only from animals under 30 months of age, according to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association industry group.
The Tories have said the asylum rate for Mexican nationals fell below one per cent over the last four years, down from 25 per cent just before the visa requirement was put in place in 2008.
“Since 2009, this barrier has been set, but today thanks to a great political will, we are overcoming such a barrier”, Pena Nieto said in Spanish.
Chaired for the first time by Trudeau – leader of Canada’s Liberal Party – following his election in November, the summit will also be Obama’s last before he steps down in January. The rules, along with tax credits for renewable power plants, would help the United States do its share to reach the North American goal, Deese said.
“When countries work together, you improve the odds of success”, Taraska said.
The president will also attend a youth event at the Canadian Museum of Nature before a state dinner hosted by Gov. Gen. David Johnston at Rideau Hall.
Over the past year, the USA derived about a third of its power from carbon-free sources, with nuclear providing 19.9 percent, according to April data from the Energy Information Administration.
Gwynne Taraska, associate director of energy policy at the Center for American Progress and a co-author of the report, said one of the key elements for averting risky warming is that countries must meet current climate goals while also setting more ambitious targets for the future.
He said it would not be necessary for the United States itself to hit the 50% mark to achieve the regional target.
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He and Trudeau will be joined by Obama on Wednesday for the Three Amigos summit, where continental climate and energy issues are expected to dominate their talks.
