Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama announced today that Canada and the United States have agreed to implement two action plans designed to speed up legitimate trade and travel, improve security in North America, and align regulatory approaches between the two countries.
“Billions of dollars worth of goods and hundreds of thousands of people cross our shared border every day,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Moving security to the perimeter of our continent will transform our border and create jobs and growth in Canada by improving the flow of goods and people between our two countries.”
The Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competiveness focuses on four areas of cooperation: addressing threats early; facilitating trade, economic growth and jobs; integrating cross-border law enforcement; and improving critical infrastructure and cyber-security.
“We are pursuing an ambitious global trade agenda, while at the same time ensuring enhanced access to the United States, our largest and most important trading partner,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Together, these agreements represent the most significant step forward in Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement.”
The Action Plan on Regulatory Cooperation will help reduce barriers to trade, lower costs for consumers and business, and create economic opportunities on both sides of the border. It identifies 29 initiatives where Canada and the U.S. will align their regulatory approaches in the areas of agriculture and food, transportation, health and personal care products, chemical management, the environment, and other cross-sectoral areas, while not compromising our health, safety or environmental protection standards.
“This Action Plan on Regulatory Cooperation will break down regulatory barriers and will make it easier for our firms and manufacturers to do business on both sides of the border,” added the Prime Minister.
The two action plans respect the sovereignty of both countries and specify they will work together to promote the principles of human rights, privacy and civil liberty essential to the rule of law and the effective management of our perimeter.
As the action plans are implemented, the Government will consult with Parliament and Canadians and keep them informed of progress.
Detailed backgrounders on each area of cooperation and what the initiatives will mean are available at www.borderactionplan.gc.ca.
I guess thats a good thing right? Living so close together should be a partnership all the way you would think.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very good Initiative I should say it sounds good from where I live I hope it will
ReplyDeletebe for you in Canada.
Odd, I didn't run across American stories on this yesterday. Wonder what today's headlines will read.
ReplyDeleteI believe if not what would be the situation economically in either country? There are more things in common between
ReplyDeletethese two countries within history as well as right now within these times Marty.
Having lived not as a tourist in many places I believe that this write which is not of mine had much merit within
ReplyDeletethis time. Canada is doing the best economically within the world right now YET THAT DOES NOT go without
the largest billateral trade in the world between two countries. I believe one does need the other.
Often for some reason within the America media with the exception of CNN you will hear these stories now
ReplyDeleteand then Grammy. It's a good story - news story and news worthy but perhaps the good things do fall off the
radar - I don't know why.
I live very far from this situation for having a fair point of view. In Latin American we have the "Mercosul" but some countries around Brazil say Brazil is imperialist :)
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate where your comin from - right now I venture over to my studio and literally am here as I do post this.
ReplyDeleteWe just finished some lunch and you can smell McDonald's within the main room. Mind you today that is alright as it's
just a catch up day. While we have purchased some new equipment and all in all it's just as it is Canada nor America is
Imperialistic. And all that I can see from this is good vibrations within this post.
Ironically there is a North American Union which has been within the works. Right now there is a super highway which has been
within the plans for some time. Anyhow just here at the studio and the difference of imperialism is that which is apart of Brazil whereas
Canada has always been democratic. I don't much know what Merosul is yet what I do know is that Brazil is huge within it's population.
I guess we are all within logical thinking at times such as this.
The Southern Common Market (Mercosul) is a customs union between countries of South America was established in 1991 by the Treaty of Asuncion, between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Besides these four countries that are States Parties, the block has six Associated States: Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, and Mexico as Observer State. Venezuela is subject to the approval of the Senates of Brazil and Paraguay to become a State Party. If it were considered a single country, would be the largest food producer in the world, the second largest in area, the fourth most populous, and the sixth largest in GDP.
ReplyDeleteIf you ate a Big Mac, you're pretty well, today. What a good news!
Kisses, dear Jack, have a sweet night.
Coming back to this....I believe that we all are within this together. I was taking a small break within the day and I am very familiar with the latin countries yet....there is not one country right now which is not effected economically. What I mean to say is that we really are all in this together. So there are those which believe within global warming. I believe within Global Affairs and always have. I think what took place in 2008 again has happened and no country is exempt from being effected.
ReplyDeleteWe can look into history yet this is a time were the alliances of countries which are of a democratic nature are that of worth. The world shall not end but I do salute those which are making headway or at least trying.