The meeting, the third instalment of the Security and Prosperity Partnership summit, is aimed at harmonising rules on trade and security across North American.
Outside the event protests had faded by early Tuesday. Four demonstrators were arrested and five police were injured in a Monday melee, said police.
President George W. Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed border inspections, trade, Afghanistan unrest, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and Canada’s disputed Arctic grab on the summit sidelines, officials announced late on Monday.
“It’s unrealistic to think that we’re going to agree on absolutely everything,” a Harper aide said, “but what is really important is that we keep talking about those things that we don’t necessarily agree on”. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon, meanwhile, discussed efforts to curb drug trafficking, immigration, and security, said Dan Fisk with the US National Security Council.
Protesters — including anti-globalisation activists, environmentalists, peace activists and civil rights groups — pounded on drums and blew on kazoos as they marched on Tuesday.
Riot police, using pepper spray, rubber bullets, tear gas and batons, blocked them at the gates of Chateau Montebello, where the leaders were meeting.—AFP