North American trade leaders promise cooperation

   Top trade officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States have committed to strengthening the trade and economic relationship among their nations.
   The group — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Prtizker; Ed Fast, Canada’s international trade minister; and Ildefonso Guajardo, the Mexican secretary of economy — pledged to work toward regulatory cooperation and efforts that will increase trade during a Monday gathering at the North American Competitiveness and Innovation Conference in San Diego.
   “By demonstrating that increased trade drives job creation and economic growth, we have set a valuable example globally and have built a solid foundation upon which North American competitiveness can continue to be enhanced to the benefit of all our citizens,” the officials said in a statement. “We have committed to ensuring that our competitive advantages as a continent are maintained and enhanced.”