James Gibney, Columnist

Obama Goes Empty-Handed to 'Three Amigos' Summit

Obama isn't bringing much to the table for this year's North American Leaders' Summit.

February 19, 2014 at 4:14 PM UTC

James Gibney is an editor for Bloomberg Opinion. Previously an editor at the Atlantic, the New York Times, Smithsonian, Foreign Policy and the New Republic, he was also in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1989 to 1997 in India, Japan and Washington.

President Obama delivers a speech in Mexico City on May 3, 2013. Photographer: Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images — President Obama delivers a speech in Mexico City on May 3, 2013. Photographer: Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images

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To heck with all the blather you're going to hear today about the "Three Amigos" meeting of U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto." If this year's North American Leaders Summit was a three-man buddy flick, the plot would revolve around the guy who failed to bring the beer and sandwiches on the big camping trip. And that guy would be Obama, who is carting the equivalent of an empty cooler to a one-day summit in Toluca, Mexico.

Want a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline that could help to knit together the hemisphere's energy market? "Sorry, Steve, that's still under review." Immigration reform to resolve the status of 11 million Hispanics left in limbo? "Lo siento, Enrique -- I can't get those bad Republicans to go along." How about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which could turbocharge trade and investment among the U.S., Canada, Mexico and nine other countries? "Guys, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi both told me 'Manana' -- at least, that's the printable version of what they said." But, hey, how about a relatively insignificant announcement on the trusted traveler program to speed business executives across the border?