With Mexico waiting for today's arrival of U.S.
President George W. Bush -- his much trumpeted "first foreign
visit" -- Canada's ambassador says it doesn't matter.
Canada, traditionally destination of choice for new
presidents, doesn't feel slighted.
"It's a silly game, who goes first, and who doesn't,"
Ambassador Keith Christie said in an interview this week. What
matters, he added, is that Canadian, Mexican and U.S. officials
"have all met and they are talking and the chemistry is
good."
However, Christie said Mexico could well overtake Canada as
first trading partner.
"If -- when -- Mexico becomes a country with a per capita
income of $20,000 -- and the population by that time will be
well over 100 million people -- they will become the United
States' No. 1 trading partner -- but so what?" he said.
"It's a phony debate. At the moment, we are the United States'
No. 1 trading partner, and we are going to be No. 1 for the
foreseeable future."
Mexico (population 100 million, per capita income, $8,690) is
agog over the Bush visit. Source.
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