Barack Obama's first foreign trip as president will be to Canada in an effort to address Canadian concerns about US protectionism. Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will discuss trade, clean energy technology, the global economic crisis, and the war in Afghanistan during the one-day trip to Ottawa. Trade will be the main focus of the discussions, with Harper seeking assurances that the "Buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package will not harm Canadian firms. US officials have stated that Obama will work to alleviate these concerns, as he believes protectionist policies can have negative consequences. The "Buy American" provision requires that any public works project funded by the stimulus package must use only iron, steel, and other goods manufactured in the United States. Obama has emphasized that the U.S. will abide by its international free trade commitments, but Harper expressed concerns about the wording of the provision. Canada is worried about Obama's proposal to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, as it could potentially create new trade barriers. Obama aims to enhance environmental and labor standards, and U.S. and Canadian labor unions are calling for changes in various NAFTA provisions ahead of 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 importance of addressing the worsening economic crisis through coordinated efforts. They called for addressing the flaws in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and implementing a range of policies related to energy, climate change, green jobs, industrial policy, migration, and development. Despite the fact that three-way trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada has significantly increased since NAFTA was implemented in 1994, the agreement has been criticized for causing job losses in the US, particularly in manufacturing states. US administration officials downplayed the issue, stating that while President Obama would bring it up in discussions with Prime Minister Harper, the current state of the global economy meant that pushing for a review of NAFTA would not be a top priority. Obama's foreign policy adviser, Denis McDonough, highlighted the president's commitment to enhancing trade between the neighboring countries, which currently amounts to $1.5 billion per day and represents the largest trading partnership in the world. Obama, who is committed to leading the United States in the fight against climate change, will address clean energy technology with Harper, according to US officials. They will also emphasize Canada's importance as a key energy supplier to the US. Environmentalists are urging Obama to push Canada to address the environmental impact of its tar sands in Alberta, which produce a significant amount of greenhouse gases. Obama expressed interest in collaborating with Canada on developing technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, acknowledging the US's dependence on Canada for energy. Additionally, Obama will discuss Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, where it has troops as part of a NATO-led mission to combat an escalating insurgency. Obama recently deployed additional troops to Afghanistan in an effort to stabilize the situation. However, as Canada is set to remove its troops in 2011 and Obama has stated that he will not be asking Ottawa to extend their stay, the discussions are anticipated to center on alternative ways that Canadians can offer assistance. US authorities have characterized Thursday's meeting, occurring just a month after Obama assumed office, as a chance for him to strengthen his personal rapport with Harper, a conservative leader who shared a close relationship with former President George W. Bush.