Two leaders discuss Iraq, free trade restrictions stemming from mad cow disease scare

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush told Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin on Friday the United States is grateful for Canada's nonmilitary assistance in Iraq and declared his commitment to lifting

Friday, April 30th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush told Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin on Friday the United States is grateful for Canada's nonmilitary assistance in Iraq and declared his commitment to lifting restrictions on beef imports into the U.S.

Standing with Martin in the Rose Garden at the White House, Bush said he is ``grateful'' to Canada, despite its refusal to support the war in Iraq.

``I want Canada doing what it feels comfortable doing in Iraq,'' Bush said.

The U.S. neighbor to the north has pledged $300 million for reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Canada is providing training in Jordan for Iraqi police.

Bush's comments, during Martin's first official visit to the United States, also underscore the importance of beef import restrictions as a trade issue stemming from the mad cow disease scare nearly a year ago.

When Canada reported its case of the brain-wasting disease in May, the United States responded by banning Canadian cattle and beef. It eased the bans later to allow imports considered at very low risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

Canada followed the same pattern after the United States reported its case of mad cow in December.

In the Rose Garden press briefing by the two leaders, a reporter reminded Bush that ``you're a rancher'' and asked what hope he could offer his fellow ranchers in Canada about reopening the border.

It is in both nations' interests, said Bush, that live beef be moving back and forth and it is also in the interests of both countries to make sure decisions are based upon sound science.

``I assured the prime minister I want to get this issue solved as quickly as possible,'' said Bush.

The Canadian prime minister recently declared that ``protectionism benefits no one'' and has said his country is ``continually astonished at how quickly the border can be closed when pressures erupt in the United States.''

Martin, who has pledged to strengthen ties with the United States since becoming prime minister in December, earlier announced the creation of a department in the Canadian embassy to lobby Congress on Canada's behalf.