The president has shown signs of shedding the protectionist baggage he brought to the White House. As presidential candidate, Barack Obama wanted to punish China for manipulating its currency to boost exports. On April 15th President Obama's treasury secretary quietly issued a report that pointedly did not declare China to be a currency manipulator. Candidate Obama promised to renegotiate the North American Free-Trade Agreement to insert tougher labour and environmental standards. President Obama has told the leaders of Canada and Mexico that the deal can be left as it is. Candidate Obamarnopposed ratification of the free-trade agreements (ftas) that George Bush had signed with Colombia and South Korea. On April 18th President Obama talked to Colombia's president, Alvaro Uribe, about how to move their fta forward.
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