Barack Obama will address Canadian concerns about US protectionism during his first foreign trip as president to Canada. Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will discuss trade, clean energy technology, the global economic crisis, and the war in Afghanistan. The main focus will be on trade, with Harper seeking assurances that the "Buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package will not negatively impact Canadian firms. Obama, on the other hand, will work to ease these concerns and has emphasized that 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 made in the United States. Although Obama has emphasized that the United States will adhere to its international free trade obligations, Harper expressed concerns about the wording of the clause. Canada is also worried about Obama's intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, as it could potentially result in new tariff barriers. Obama aims to enhance environmental and labor provisions, while U.S. and Canadian labor unions are calling for changes in various NAFTA provisions ahead of Obama's meeting with Harper. The AFL-CIO labor federation and the Canadian Labour Congress have jointly stated that the economic crisis needs to be addressed in a coordinated manner. They also emphasized the importance of reopening and addressing the flaws in the North American Free Trade Agreement, along with implementing a range of complementary policies related to energy, climate change, green jobs, industrial policy, migration, and development. The three-way trade between the United States, Mexico, and Canada has significantly increased since NAFTA was implemented in 1994, with Canada and Mexico being major buyers of US exports. Despite NAFTA being criticized for job losses in the US, US administration officials have mentioned that President Obama will discuss the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Harper, but will not push for a review of NAFTA due to the fragile state of the world economy. Obama's foreign policy adviser has stated that the president will emphasize his commitment to increasing trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada, as they have the largest trading partnership in the world. Obama, who is advocating for the United States to lead the charge against climate change, will be discussing clean energy technology with Harper, according to US officials. They will also be highlighting the significance of Canada as a major energy supplier for the US. Environmentalists are urging Obama to push Canada to address the environmental impact of its tar sands in Alberta, which produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. In an interview with CBC, Obama expressed his desire to collaborate with Canada on developing new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, acknowledging that the US currently relies heavily on Canada for energy. Additionally, Obama will be addressing Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, where it has troops as part of a NATO-led mission to combat an escalating insurgency. This week, Obama approved the deployment of 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in an effort to curb the violence. However, as Canada is set to remove its troops in 2011 and Obama has stated he will not be asking them to extend their stay, the discussions are likely to center on alternative ways the Canadians can provide assistance. US officials have characterized Thursday's meeting, occurring a month after Obama's inauguration, as a chance for Obama to strengthen his personal connection with Harper, a conservative leader who shared a bond with former President George W. Bush.