Canada's Martin May Be The Leader To Watch In Monterrey

ByJohn S. McClenahen Mexican President Vicente Fox is hosting this week's Summit of the Americas in Monterrey. And U.S. President George W. Bush, having just put forth a guest workers proposal and presiding over a recovering U.S. economy, is attending. But Paul Martin, the newly chosen prime minister of Canada, could be prove to be the most powerful leader in Monterrey -- at least on hemispheric trade matters. "Like the United States, Canada has had its share of bitter trade fights with Brazil in recent years, but Canada's concern over agricultural trade barriers and the potential for a U.S. retreat to protectionism could make Paul Martin the ideal broker of a deal between the United States and Brazil to get the FTAA [Free Trade Area of the Americas] talks going again," suggests Christopher Sands, fellow and director of the Canada project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.