Canada remains concerned about the "Buy American" provision in the U.S. stimulus package, which was approved by the U.S. Congress on Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.

"There were some improvements as this went through the congressional process but obviously all of us remain concerned, and I think (U.S.) President (Barack) Obama himself has said that he wants to ensure that the stimulus packages do not lead to protectionist measures in the United States or anywhere else," Harper told a televised news conference in Montreal on Friday.

Canada and other U.S. trade partners have lobbied bitterly against the U.S. protectionist move, which requires all public projects to use U.S.-made iron and steel and other manufactured goods to get government spending under the stimulus package.

U.S. lawmakers last week added a caveat to the provision to clarify that "Buy American" must not violate international trade agreements. But Canada is concerned that the amended "Buy American" clause is still included in the final version of the proposed U.S. economic stimulus package, Harper said.

(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 14, 2009)