Barack Obama's first foreign trip as president will be to Canada, where he aims to address Canadian concerns about US protectionism. The discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will cover trade, clean energy technology, the global economic crisis, and the war in Afghanistan, although time constraints will limit the depth of the talks. Trade issues, particularly the impact of the "Buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package, will be a key focus of the meeting, with both sides seeking to reassure each other that the policy will not harm Canadian firms. Obama has emphasized the importance of avoiding protectionist policies that could have negative consequences. The requirement of the "Buy American" provision is that any public works project funded by the stimulus package must use goods made in the United States. Obama has emphasized that the U.S. will adhere to its international free trade agreements, but Harper has expressed concerns about the provision. Canada is also worried about Obama's desire to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, fearing it could result in new tariff barriers. Obama aims to enhance environmental and labor provisions, and U.S. and Canadian labor unions have called for changes in various NAFTA provisions before Obama's meeting with Harper. In a joint letter to the two leaders, the AFL-CIO labor federation and the Canadian Labour Congress emphasized the need to address the worsening economic crisis in a coordinated manner. They also called for reopening and rectifying the flaws in the North American Free Trade Agreement, as well as implementing a variety of complementary policies related to energy, climate change, green jobs, industrial policy, migration, and development. Three-way trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada has significantly increased since NAFTA was established in 1994, with Canada and Mexico combined purchasing over a third of US exports. Despite the positive aspects of the agreement, it has been criticized for contributing to job losses in the US, particularly in manufacturing states. US officials have indicated that while President Obama will discuss NAFTA with Prime Minister Harper, the current global economic situation means that a review of the agreement is not a top priority at the moment. Obama's foreign policy adviser has stated that the president will emphasize his commitment to enhancing trade between the neighboring countries, which currently have the largest trading partnership in the world, amounting to $1.5 billion per day. Obama plans to discuss clean energy technology with Harper, emphasizing Canada's importance as a key US energy supplier. Environmentalists are urging Obama to push Canada to address the environmental impact of their tar sands extraction in Alberta. Obama mentioned working with Canada on developing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, acknowledging the US's reliance on Canada as a primary energy provider. Additionally, Obama will touch on Canada's involvement in Afghanistan during his discussions with Harper. However, with Canada set to remove its troops in 2011 and Obama indicating he had no plans to ask them to stay beyond that date, the discussions are anticipated to center on alternative ways that the Canadians can offer assistance. US authorities have described Thursday's meeting, scheduled a month after Obama assumed office, as a chance for Obama to strengthen his personal rapport with Harper, a conservative leader who shared a close connection with former President George W. Bush.