The leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, known as "the three amigos," are meeting in Mexico to discuss trade issues and the threat of drug gangs. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are gathering in Guadalajara for dinner Sunday night followed by three-way talks on Monday. The main topics on their agenda include boosting their economies, ensuring smooth trade, and addressing Mexican gangs involved in the drug trade. Major agreements are not expected to be announced at the annual summit, but rather it is seen as a step in ongoing discussions that will likely lead to agreements in the future. Calderon is expected to bring up a cross-border trucking dispute with Obama during the meeting. According to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican trucks are supposed to be allowed to enter the United States, but American trucking companies claim that Mexican trucks are not safe. This issue has been ongoing for years. In response to Obama canceling a program that allowed Mexican trucks to operate beyond the U.S. border zone, Mexico imposed retaliatory tariffs of $2.4 billion on U.S. goods in March. U.S. business groups have been urging the White House to resolve the dispute, as they believe the ban could result in the loss of thousands of American jobs. Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan, stated that they would like to see a final resolution to the trucking issue. He expressed his desire to have an agreement in place by the end of the year. Michael Froman, a top official at the White House, informed reporters that the Obama administration is actively working with the U.S. Congress to address safety concerns. Canadian officials are concerned about the "Buy American" components of a $787 billion economic stimulus package, as they fear it could prevent Canadian companies from receiving U.S. construction contracts funded by the stimulus. Canada, being the United States' largest trading partner, is in discussions with the Obama administration and other countries to find a way to implement the "Buy American" provision in a manner that is consistent with the law and international obligations, while also minimizing trade disruptions. Obama addressed concerns about potentially reopening the NAFTA treaty during a meeting with Hispanic reporters before his trip. He stated that due to the weakened economies of the three nations involved, now is not the time to add enforceable labor and environmental protections to the treaty as some in his party would prefer. While he remains interested in improving the treaty, he emphasized that the focus should be on the current difficult economic situation. Another key issue at the summit is the escalating violence caused by Mexican drug gangs, despite President Calderon's efforts to combat them over the past three years. The death rate from the violence this year is significantly higher than in 2008, and authorities in the United States and Canada have linked the Mexican traffickers to crime in their countries as well. Obama is supporting Calderon's actions in going after drug cartels, praising his courage. Despite promises of full support during a visit in April, Mexico is frustrated with delays in receiving anti-drug equipment and training. The leaders will also discuss H1N1 swine flu and climate change at an upcoming summit in preparation for international talks in Copenhagen in December.