U.S.-Canada Business Dialogue - Opening Remarks by Thomas J. Donohue

Opening Remarks
Thomas J. Donohue
President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Washington, D.C.
March 31, 2004

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the "U.S.-Canada Business Dialogue."

I am delighted to see so many of our good friends from Canada who have joined us for this important event.

Let me offer a special welcome to my good friend Nancy Hughes Anthony, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — our partner in organizing this event.

I'd also like to welcome Shauneen Bruder [shau-NEEN BROO-der], President of the Canadian-American Business Council, our other partner in organizing this gathering.

We are also honored to be joined by Scott Brison, who is here representing Canada's Prime Minister, Paul Martin.

Mr. Brison is the member of Prime Minister Martin's cabinet charged with oversight of Canada's relationship with the United States.

Ladies and gentlemen, the U.S. Chamber hosts nearly 50 heads of state a year, and dozens of ministers and ambassadors visit us every month.

The United States has many critical partnerships around the world — but our interdependent relationship with Canada is unique.

Now, I'm not one for beating around the bush. I believe in plain speaking — and it's a testament to the strong friendship ties between Canadians and Americans that we can speak plainly to each other.

Last year, the U.S.-Canada relationship hit a few bumps in the road.

And while these bumps can't be ignored or dismissed, they will not stop the journey we are making together to forge a truly integrated North American economy that lifts all our citizens to new levels of opportunity and progress.

They will not stop this journey as long as the business communities of both nations demonstrate strong and principled leadership.

The place to begin is to remind our governments and our citizens again and again just how essential our bilateral commercial relationship is to jobs, prosperity, national wealth and our free way of life.

And we must take the lead in steering our nations through one of the most significant challenges stemming from 9/11 — and that is how strengthen our economies while improving both security and the flow of commerce and people along our border.

As complex as the border security issue is, I challenge anyone to find two neighboring countries anywhere in the world who are better suited to work together in search of solutions than Canada and the U.S.

We enjoy the largest and most comprehensive economic relationship in the entire world.

25% of U.S. exports are shipped to Canada. That's more than we export to all 15-member states of the European Union—combined.

From the Canadian perspective, exports to the United States account for nearly one-third of Canada's economic output. Canadian investors have poured more than $100 billion into the United States, and U.S. companies have invested $140 billion in Canada.

Does this mean that we have the perfect trading relationship? Certainly not.

Do we have disputes from time to time? Of course we do.

Show me two trading partners that don't. Whether it's over softwood lumber, wheat, or high tech products, disagreements between us on the terms and conditions of trade will sprout up from time to time.

In a competitive global economy, that's normal, even between two friends as close as we are. But we must never lose sight of the fact that 99% of our trade is dispute-free—and that other 1% shouldn't be allowed to weaken our friendship.

Beyond trade, it's really our shared beliefs, principles and views of the world that form the foundation of our friendship.

Building on a long history of mutual support, Canada since 9/11 has supported the United States in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and around the world.

Perhaps most importantly, we are open societies. We are free societies.

We are mobile people who treasure the opportunity to trade and travel around the world, to head out for a new frontier to try a new idea.

If we squander such wonderful freedoms, we will not only suffer economically but we stand to lose a good measure of our distinctive character as Americans and Canadians.

And then the Osama bin Ladens of the world will have won.

We can look upon this question as a problem, or we can see it as an opportunity – an opportunity to make our borders more secure and more efficient at the same time.

This is an opportunity to significantly upgrade a border infrastructure system that has been starved for badly needed investment for decades.

Many people talk about "striking a balance" between commerce and security, as if to imply that the only solution is to accept a little less prosperity and a little less security.

But that's not good enough in my book. We should aim higher and find win-win solutions for trade and safety.

Through new technology and the Smart Border accord, we have the potential to keep those with criminal or terrorist backgrounds out of our countries without having to endure logjams at border crossings.

In the end, the responsibility rests with business to speak out and insist that YES, we need to enhance security at our borders — but we ALSO must ensure that we can continue to move people and goods across the border with speed and efficiency.

This is a challenge and an opportunity that businesses on both sides of the border must pursue together.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude by urging all of you gathered here today to remember the BIGGER picture.

Together, here in North America, we have created an unsurpassed standard of living for our citizens.

Our economies are interdependent and in the future they will become more interdependent.

We value Canada as part of our family — and we Americans hope you always consider us part of yours.

We value Canada as our largest international market and source of so much of the energy that powers our economy.

We value Canada as a friend and ally whose sons and daughters have sacrificed their lives for freedom alongside our sons and daughters.

We value Canada for all you have done to help us meet the threat of terrorism.

Canada and the United States represent two proud, distinctive nations — nations that are bound together in friendship, mutual respect, shared values and by a common border.

There is no doubt in my mind — no doubt whatsoever— that our countries will master this great challenge.

Business will lead the way, and I pledge to all of you that we will put the full strength and resources of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States behind the effort to strengthen and expand our vital commercial relationship.

If we do this and do it together, then we will not only preserve the blessings of liberty, democracy and prosperity for future generations of Canadians and Americans, but we will also extend these wonderful blessings around the world.

Thank you very much. Let me invite my good friend Nancy Hughes Anthony to the podium.