U.S. President George Bush says now is not the time to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA.
Mr. Bush made the comment Tuesday at the conclusion of a two-day North American summit in New Orleans. Mexican Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also took part in the news conference.
The president said NAFTA has benefited the United States, Canada and Mexico and has tripled trade.
During the news conference, the president also renewed his call for the U.S. Congress to pass a free trade pact with Colombia.
Mr. Bush said the three leaders also discussed global warming and energy during the summit. He said the United States is in favor of an effective climate agreement that will include binding commitments from all major developed and developing economies.
Bush administration officials say the deal will generate $1 trillion in three-way trade this year. However, Democratic candidates, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, say the agreement has cost U.S. citizens manufacturing jobs in favor of cheaper labor costs in Mexico.
