In Washington on August 9, leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, also known as "the three amigos," are gathering in Mexico for a summit to discuss trade issues and the threat of drug gangs. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon will hold talks in Guadalajara starting with dinner on Sunday night, followed by discussions on Monday. Key topics include boosting their economies, maintaining smooth trade, and addressing Mexican drug gangs that are active along the U.S. border and into Canada. While major agreements are not expected to be announced, Obama's national security adviser, Jim Jones, believes the summit will be a step in ongoing discussions that will lead to agreements in the future. Calderon is likely to push Obama to resolve a cross-border trucking dispute. According to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican trucks should be permitted to enter the United States, but American trucking companies argue that Mexican trucks are not safe. This disagreement has been ongoing for years. In response to Obama's cancellation of a program allowing Mexican trucks to operate outside of the U.S. border zone, Mexico imposed $2.4 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods in March. U.S. business groups have been urging the White House to resolve the conflict, as they believe the ban could result in the loss of numerous American jobs. Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan, expressed a desire for a final resolution to the trucking issue. He mentioned that he hoped to have an agreement by the end of the year. Michael Froman, a top official at the White House, informed reporters that the Obama administration is actively working on the issue and collaborating with Congress to address safety concerns. Canadian officials are anticipated to express worries about the "Buy American" components of a $787 billion economic stimulus package that could potentially exclude Canadian companies from receiving U.S. construction contracts funded by the stimulus. Canada is the largest trading partner of the United States. Froman stated that the Obama administration is in discussions with Canada and other countries to find a way to implement the "Buy American" provision in a manner that complies with the law and international obligations, while also minimizing trade disruptions. Obama addressed concerns about potentially reopening NAFTA and adding enforceable labor and environmental protections during his trip. He acknowledged the difficult economic situation and stated that now is not the time to make such changes to the treaty. However, he expressed interest in finding ways to improve it. Another important issue at the summit is how to address the increasing violence caused by Mexican drug gangs, despite President Calderon's efforts to combat them over the past three years. Obama is supporting Calderon's actions against drug cartels, praising his courage and promising full support during a visit in April. However, Mexico is concerned that anti-drug equipment and training are being delayed. The leaders also plan to address the H1N1 swine flu and climate change at the summit in preparation for international talks in Copenhagen in December.