North American Neighbors Meet to Discuss Cross-Border Issues

Also known as the "Three Amigos" summit, the North American Leaders Summit assembled the new U.S. president, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The three men agreed to work together on security and climate change, but tensions remain over escalating drug-related violence along the U.S.-Mexico border and certain trade restrictions included in the U.S. economic stimulus package.

Nations closely linked by shared borders

	The three countries make up the North American Free Trade Agreement, one of the most powerful trading blocks in the world.

Intended as a public display of economic and political partnership, the three leaders touted the positive nature of relations between the three largest North American countries, which are linked economically and politically.

In a news conference at the summit, President Calderon emphasized the need for the nations to work together saying, "We coincide in pointing out that in an age marked by globalization, the challenges can only be overcome jointly."

Andres Martinez of the New America Foundation discussed the necessity of a close relationship between the "intertwined countries" with the NewsHour.

"The border is porous. These two economies are so interconnected in so many different ways. So whether you're talking about the trucking dispute or environmental questions or even, you know, the [H1N1 swine] flu, which is one of these issues that popped up earlier this year, it's just a reminder that there's a complexity to this."

U.S. promises aid to Mexico to fight drug-related violence

	Mexican military are fighting the drug cartels, criminal organizations that fight for control of illegal smuggling routes into the U.S.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Mexico since last year in the fight between the Mexican government and the powerful drug cartels that channel illegal narcotics into the U.S., according to the Agence France-Presse.

The Mexican city of Juarez where many of the killings have taken place, shares a border with El Paso, Texas. U.S. officials worry that Americans are already beginning to feel the effects of the violence as the situation becomes more volatile.

In an effort to help the Mexican government control the cartels, the U.S. has pledged $1.4 billion in aid under the so-called Merida Initiative. President Obama highlighted these intentions at the summit in Mexico.

"We have already seen resources transferred, equipment transferred in order to help President Calderon in what is a very courageous effort to deal with a drug cartel -- set of drug cartels that are not only resulting in extraordinary violence to the people of Mexico, but are also undermining institutions like the police and the judiciary system that, unless stopped, will be very damaging to the country," President Obama said.

Americans contribute about $28.5 billion to the Mexican drug trade and Calderon has noticed that significant role, according to the Associated Press.

"The main cause of the problems associated with organized crime is having the world's biggest consumer next to us," Calderon told the AFP.

Buy American clause in U.S. stimulus plan

	President Obama signed his $787 billion stimulus package into law in February.

President Obama also responded to fears about the "Buy American" clause in the U.S. administration's economic stimulus package that requires public infrastructure projects receiving stimulus funds use only American-made materials. Both Canada and Mexico have opposed such plans.

As the United States' largest trading partner, Canadian officials worried that such provisions would endanger Canadian manufacturing companies that work with U.S. industry.

Hoping to reassure Prime Minister Harper, President Obama insisted that such trade barriers in the stimulus are a short term problem and in no way indicate that the U.S. administration favors protectionism, an economic policy that restricts trade between countries through government regulation.

"[The Buy American clause] was not something that I thought was necessary, but it was introduced at a time when we had a very severe economic situation and it was important for us to act quickly and not get bogged down in debates around this particular provision," President Obama said.