Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America

[farmers_son]

http://www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/CCP/view/en/index.cfm?articleid=134149

See Also:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050323-4.html

SECURITY AND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH AMERICA

We, the elected leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, gather in Texas to announce the establishment of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
Over the past decade, our three nations have taken important steps to expand economic opportunity for our people and to create the most vibrant and dynamic trade relationship in the world. Since September 11, 2001, we have also taken significant new steps to address the threat of terrorism and to enhance the security of our people.
Our Partnership will accomplish these objectives through a trilateral effort to increase the security, prosperity, and quality of life of our citizens. This work will be based on the principle that our security and prosperity are mutually dependent and complementary, and will reflect our shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic values and institutions. Also, it will help consolidate our action into a North American framework to confront security and economic challenges, and promote the full potential of our people, addressing disparities and increasing opportunities for all.
Advancing our Common Security
We will establish a common approach to security to protect North America from external threats, prevent and respond to threats within North America, and further streamline the secure and efficient movement of legitimate, low-risk traffic across our shared borders.

Next Steps

We will establish Ministerial-led working groups that will consult with stakeholders in our respective countries. These working groups will respond to the priorities of our people and our businesses, and will set specific, measurable, and achievable goals. They will identify concrete steps that our governments can take to meet these goals, and set implementation dates that will permit a rolling harvest of accomplishments.
Within 90 days, Ministers will report back to us with their initial report. Following this, the groups will report on a semi-annual basis. Because the Partnership will be an ongoing process of cooperation, new items will be added to the work agenda by mutual agreement as circumstances warrant.

And this from the CCA Info site:
http://www.info-cca.ca/

“Canada, Mexico and the United States have signed a trilateral agreement on harmonizing BSE import standards. Implementation of this standard is subject to the completion of the respective regulatory processes in each of the three countries. Mexico has indicated that they will immediately begin the process to amend their import permits to allow for the importation of a broader range of products, including those that were proposed in the U.S. rule that was to be implemented on March 7th. This process is expected to take approximately 3-4 months”.

[grassfarmer]

Hmmm, So Mexico is amending it's rules to allow for greater imports from the US, Canada is amending it's rules to allow greater imports from the US - and what are the US doing? - blocking Canadian imports and of course they will block any move that Canada makes to ship live cattle through their country to Mexico. Isn't trade harmonisation great?.... If you're an American.

[farmers_son]

I would not even suggest that somehow our BSE situation is connected to larger political ambitions of the U.S. I will leave the reader to draw their own conclusions. However I would point out that the announcement of the SECURITY AND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH AMERICA came on the same day that the USDA announced they would appeal the R-Calf injunction even though they could have appealed anytime in the two weeks prior to that.

And that the trilateral agreement on BSE protocols came less than a week after the announcement of the trilateral agreement on North American security. And that both agreements have a 90 day timetable for implementation to begin. And it is pure circumstance that the R-Calf lawsuit is being heard at about that time. And I am sure that the U.S. border remaining closed after March 7 and the U.S. Senate vote was strictly related to food safety issues and not a larger U.S. political agenda.

Although the SECURITY AND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH AMERICA agreement did not get very much press, Canadian producers would be well advised to pay close attention to the progress being made on this new agreement if they want to know when the border will open to live cattle trade.

[cowman]

I'm certainly not against harmonizing our borders in regard to security. The fact is over the last twenty or thirty years Canada has let in just about every organized crime group possible? And quite often these same people are terrorists?
Hopefully it might make a difference at the US/Canada border where security is totally insane. It used to be that you drove up to American customs and they asked where you were headed and have a good day? Now they want ID, picture ID, run your name through a computer, give you the old third degree! Takes about ten minutes...meanwhile the traffic starts to back up!
What kind of no brainer is this? A middle aged caucasion couple blue eyes blond hair, speak perfect English, driving a new Chev Impala with Alberta plates....definitely terrorist material right? LOL
I believe the US uses this garbage as a trade barrier. They really don't want our money I guess?
I find it ironic that certain elements in Montana continue to bash Alberta/Canada. Don't they realize that without our trade they would be about the poorest state in the union? Who do they think paid for that lovely highway from Sweet Grass to Shelby? For their information it was the Alberta government! And incidently it is about the only decent road in the whole state!

[pandiana]

farmers_son, care to elaborate on this?

"And it is pure circumstance that the R-Calf lawsuit is being heard at about that time. And I am sure that the U.S. border remaining closed after March 7 and the U.S. Senate vote was strictly related to food safety issues and not a larger U.S. political agenda"

Are you implying this is an offensive move by the US against border closure?

[farmers_son]

No, I was being sarcastic.

I have believed for some time the border will open to live cattle when and only when it suits the Americans. And part of that reality is a bigger picture involving U.S. security and international affairs that is on the agenda at the same time the border closure. It is not just about food safety anymore, if it ever was.

I was talking with a cattle producer yesterday and he asked when I thought the border would open. You know, a year ago that was on everyones mind. But now I think the more important question is when will we get busy building packing plants.

The Americans can play their games opening the border and not opening the border but it all is getting a little old. We should let the Americans play politics while Canadians get busy building packing plants.