Chamber Hosts North American Competitiveness Council

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today hosted senior business leaders from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico under the newly launched North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) to devise strategies to give North American workers and companies an edge in the world economy.

"In a rapidly globalizing world, North America needs to pull together to get ahead," said John Murphy, the Chamber's vice president for international affairs. "Through the North American Competitiveness Council, business is bringing a laser-like focus to the policies that promise great jobs, rising incomes, and shared prosperity."

In March, President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mexican President Vicente Fox announced the creation of the NACC at a summit in Cancún, Mexico. The U.S. Chamber coordinates the U.S. Section of the NACC.

The U.S. companies participating in the NACC have already issued extensive recommendations for enhanced North American cooperation on border security, customs reform, regulatory cooperation, energy integration, and policies to spur innovation. Hundreds of companies and industry associations have participated to date.

The U.S. members of the NACC will work with their peers from Canada and Mexico to hammer out consensus recommendations for policies to enhance North American competitiveness.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com

# # #

06-133