Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on Capitol Hill Thursday, where he met with Congressional leaders and pressed the Americans on protectionist policies that are causing grief to Canadian manufacturers.
Harper's itinerary on Thursday included sit-downs with high profile Democrats such as Senate majority leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A day earlier, he spent more than an hour with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.
At a brief news conference, Harper described the U.S. as "far and away our best friend in the world; we are so lucky to have you as a neighbour."
Pelosi responded: "Canada and the United States, as you know, are the closest of friends and we value that friendship enormously in the Congress of the United States."
But although Harper managed to secure private meetings with the important leaders, it's less certain whether they will result in changes to the crippling "Buy American" policies.
Capitol Hill is currently obsessed with Obama's attempt to reform the U.S. health care system and lawmakers may have little appetite to tackle other issues.
"The two centres of power in Washington are the White House and Capitol Hill and you can see the problems Obama is having in getting health care through Congress," reported CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife.
"I don't know how successful it's going to be. I think the leaders will probably say 'we hear you Mr. Harper and see you later.' If he can come away with something it will be a huge win but I wouldn't put any money on it."
Harper sat down with several U.S. senators, including Reid and Republican Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader.
In the meeting, Harper "emphasized the strength of the bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States" and took pains to register Canada's opposition to "Buy American," spokesperson Dmitri Soudas said in a statement.
"The Prime Minister took the opportunity to raise the continued importance to fight protectionism by promoting open and free trade ... and expressed the importance of the role that the American Senate can play in supporting a resolution."
In the Wednesday meeting with Obama, Harper discussed the recession and the effect of stimulus spending, as well as energy, security, Afghanistan and trade issues.
Harper even won a victory in getting a tentative exemption for Canadian sports teams on charter flights in the U.S. that were being restricted on flying between U.S. cities.
Fife, who is travelling with the prime minister, said progress was made on a number of issues.
They even agreed "to form a common front on the environment when they go to global climate talks later this year in Copenhagen," Fife reported from Washington.
On Wednesday, perhaps anticipating a stiff response from Congress, Obama suggested there may be ways for Canada to get around the Buy American policy, Fife said.
For example, it would be possible for the 35 U.S. states that don't support the Buy American legislation, to form trade pacts with Canadian provinces that would allow cross border work to continue.
The law, enacted after the recession hit one year ago, restricted Canadian companies from bidding on U.S. infrastructure projects.
Obama also gave his assurances that there is no "trade war" between the two countries.
Fife said the two leaders have now met seven times, and appear to have a comfortable, positive working relationship, with the two leaders even calling each other by their first names.
From Washington, Harper will head to New York to meet with business leaders.
