Trade disputes are minor when compared to the benefits of a "vibrant, positive friendship" between the U.S. and Canada, President George W. Bush said yesterday.
At a joint press conference held in Kananaskis with Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Bush said the two countries have the kind of relationship that can work through trade disputes.
"We've got a significant relationship together. It's a vibrant, positive friendship," Bush said following bilateral talks with Chretien in advance of the official G-8 summit agenda which begins today.
"There are some problems on occasion, but we've got the kind of relationship where people are very frank and where we can try to work through them."
Trade relations between the two countries have hit the kind of turbulence not seen in years following disputes on softwood lumber, agriculture and energy.
Chretien opened the press conference by joking that Kananaskis not only has great natural beauty, but is near to an abundance of natural gas which the U.S. is keen to buy.
The two leaders didn't elaborate on what happened in the meeting. Bush preferred to focus on the total trade relationship -- more than a $1 billion per day -- rather than on specific issues.
"The opportunities and the benefits far exceed the few problems that face us," said Bush.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal said he didn't expect energy issues to get much talk time between the two leaders, adding softwood lumber and agriculture would likely dominate.
"We've made our positions (on energy) very clear in Washington on several occasions -- they already know where we stand," said Dhaliwal.
Energy was added to the growing list of disputes with the U.S. following a proposed U.S. Senate bill that would effectively subsidize a natural gas pipeline to Alaska by guaranteeing a gas price for producers operating in that state. It's feared those subsidies could hinder gas production in Canada.
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