U.S. & Canadian Chambers Offer Proposals to Increase Border Security & Trade Flows

'For the World's Largest Trading Partnership to Expand during this Recession, Cooperation is Essential,' Donohue says

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with 47 business associations from both sides of the border, today issued a joint report entitled  Finding the Balance: Shared Border of the Future. Following up on their 2008 report, this paper offers specific recommendations to reduce border costs in the short-term while increasing security at the border and competitiveness of all industries.

"Our countries share this common border and must work together to improve the flow of trade and people," said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. "Businesses rely on an efficient, predictable border to ensure profitability and growth. For the world's largest trading partnership to expand during this recession, cooperation is essential."

The report puts forward recommendations for both governments to act on within the next 18 months to improve our economies. These proposals include:

• streamlining border wait times;
• implementing trusted shipper programs to enhance supply chain security without imposing a one-size-fits-all regulatory burden on businesses;
• enacting the NEXUS program to expedite clearance for 1 million low-risk travelers;
• offering pre-clearance of goods and people beyond the currently defined "border" area;
• and providing funding for a single electronic filing system.

The border facilitates the largest bilateral trade partnership in the world, with $1.6 billion in two-way trade and 300,000 travelers crossing the border on a daily basis. Thirty-seven of the 50 U.S. states rely on Canada as their largest export market. More than 10 million jobs rely on this partnership, including 7.1 million jobs in the U.S. and 3 million jobs in Canada.

"The business community is looking for action from both governments to fix the structural problems at the border," said Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "We are providing both governments with practical recommendations to ensure we come out of this economic downturn stronger and more competitive."

In addition to the 47 U.S. and Canadian business associations that partnered to issue today's report, the U.S. Chamber and Canadian Chamber had the support of its four sponsors: Con-Way Inc., MDS Nordion, Casco Inc., and Purolator.

A copy of the report is available at: /publications/reports/0907_sharedborder

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

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