tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82563886174231800062024-03-14T02:00:59.797-07:00BE YOUR OWN LEADERDana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-26123553916729733742017-01-09T18:09:00.000-08:002017-01-10T05:45:11.973-08:00Globalist Leaders Ensure North American Integration Mechanisms Remain in PlaceBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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As Donald Trump prepares to become U.S. president on Jan. 20, the future of NAFTA is in doubt. He has promised to either renegotiate or withdraw from the trade agreement. Despite the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, there are still many different existing North American integration mechanisms that remain in place. Over the last year, the globalists have quietly laid the foundation to ensure their continental agenda continues. They are positioning themselves so they can try to better influence the new Trump administration in advancing deeper economic, political and security integration in North America.<br />
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At the <a href="https://archive.is/m3W2h">North American Leaders Summit</a> (NALS) in June of last year, the U.S., Canada and Mexico agreed to the formation of a North American Caucus. A <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2016/06/29/regional-and-global-issues-2016-north-american-leaders-summit">Government of Canada press release</a> explained how the initiative is designed to, “enhance cooperation on regional and global priorities by establishing a consultation mechanism that will meet twice a year. This mechanism will support regular meetings of the North American Foreign Ministers and other annual multilateral policy dialogues.” The North American Caucus, “will also encourage collaboration on emerging political developments and security concerns, as well as promote cooperation on regional energy security, climate change, environmental issues, economic competitiveness, and citizen security and health.” During a <a href="https://archive.is/G9aqy">press conference</a> at the most recent NALS, President Barack Obama acknowledged, “we’re going to do more to speak with one, united North American voice on the world stage.” The North American Caucus is part of efforts to merge the foreign policies of all three countries. <a name='more'></a> <br />
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As part of the 2016 NALS, the NAFTA partners launched the North American Dialogue on Drug Policy as a means, “to exchange information on drug trends, increase trilateral coordination on drug policy, and develop actions that our governments can take to protect our citizens from harmful drugs and drug trafficking.” On October 27, 2016, the <a href="https://archive.is/aW8SG">North American Dialogue on Drug Policy held its inaugural meeting</a> which, “focused on the shared illicit drug problem, from production and trade to consumption and misuse.” The discussions also, “resulted in the identification of best practices, methods to gather data from multi-sectoral perspectives, and helped identify possible trilateral lines of cooperation to address North American drug challenges.” The three governments are scheduled to meet again later this year to review the progress they have made in strengthening collaboration on drug issues affecting the continent.<br />
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During the last NALS, the leaders also announced the creation of the Stakeholder Dialogue on North American Competitiveness. The new forum gives the private sector and non-governmental organizations a chance to contribute ideas on increasing competitiveness across the continent. On September 29, 2016, the <a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/NALS-dialogue">Wilson Center hosted the first annual Stakeholder Dialogue</a>. The talks focused on competitiveness, as well as energy and the environment. The <a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/bios_competitiveness_1.pdf">participants included</a> representatives from the Council on Foreign Relations, the George W. Bush Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Exxon Mobil and Wal-Mart, along with various other groups. The meeting also produced a series of <a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/summary_report_nals_nov_2016_3.pdf">recommendations</a>, which will help build the agenda for the next NALS. Some of the proposals put forth by the Stakeholder Dialogue could play an important role in reshaping NAFTA. If Trump goes ahead with plans to renegotiate the trade deal, the corporate elite will no doubt try to persuade him to make changes that will benefit them even more.<br />
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In November 2016, the George W. Bush Institute released the policy paper, <a href="http://gwbcenter.imgix.net/Resources/GWBI-KeyInvestmentsInNorthAmerica.pdf">Investing in North American Competitiveness</a>. It recommended establishing, “a new North American border infrastructure bank to drive a market approach to planning, financing, and coordinating border projects.” In addition, the Institute proposed expanding continental, “access to common technical credentials for frontline work in manufacturing and logistics.” The report noted that, “Executing on these initiatives requires a commitment on the part of our three governments to sustain attention to a North American strategy for competitiveness, which itself requires a high-level commitment to regular North American Leaders’ Summits with structured follow-up.” In order to achieve better results, the leaders have established a regular trilateral coordination process to ensure implementation of NALS commitments.<br />
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During his presidency, George W. Bush pursued deeper North American ties through the <a href="https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050323-4.html">Security and Prosperity Partnership</a>. A week after the U.S. election, <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/publications/articles/2016/11/president-bush-nasco-remarks.html">Bush delivered remarks</a> at the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO) <a href="http://nasconetwork.publishpath.com/2016-continental-reunion">2016 Continental Reunion</a>. He took the opportunity to defend NAFTA and called for further strengthening economic and trade relations with Canada and Mexico. The Bush Institute also updated their <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/scorecard/">North America Competitiveness Scorecard</a>. Once again, North America was ranked as the world’s most competitive economic region. As part of efforts to counter negativity surrounding the NAFTA partnership, the Institute stated, “Despite misguided rhetoric to the contrary, now is the time to reinforce our North American bond, not dissolve it.” Keeping the NAFTA framework intact is an important part to the globalist agenda.<br />
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After Brexit and Trump’s election victory, the globalists have been busy regrouping. They are not about to just roll over quietly and are planning their next decisive move. A Clinton presidency would have been a continuation of the Obama administration's disastrous foreign policies and would have been especially favorable to their overall agenda. With the collapse of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the globalists have an opportunity to shift their focus to renegotiating and modernizing NAFTA as a way of further deepening North American integration. It is imperative that we continue to resist the mechanisms, which threaten our sovereignty. We need to guard against any attempts to incorporate the controversial elements of the TPP into an upgraded NAFTA.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2016/01/rebuilding-and-expanding-north-american.html">Rebuilding and Expanding the North American Relationship</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-renewed-push-for-deeper-north_29.html">The Renewed Push for Deeper North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/11/building-new-north-american-partnership.html">Building a New North American Partnership for the Future</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/03/nafta-partners-pushing-north-american.html">NAFTA Partners Pushing North American Competitiveness Integration Agenda</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-28601575331061472062016-01-27T03:38:00.000-08:002016-01-27T04:40:39.697-08:00Rebuilding and Expanding the North American RelationshipBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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A major priority for Canada’s new prime minister is to reset the relationships with both the U.S. and Mexico. There is a real opportunity for all three countries to recommit to building a North American community. This includes expanding political, security and economic cooperation, as well as greater coordination on issues such as energy and the environment. Further deepening Canada-Mexico ties is one of the keys to strengthening continental relations. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which builds on the commitments of NAFTA could also help take North American trilateral integration to the next level.<br />
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During a foreign policy speech before he became Prime Minister, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau <a href="https://www.liberal.ca/justin-trudeaus-speech-on-real-change-in-canada-u-s-relations/">emphasized the importance of North America</a> and outlined his plans to improve Canada’s relationship with its NAFTA partners. He discussed some of the problems facing Mexico and how Canada could help solve them. Trudeau noted, “In many areas, Canadians have the necessary expertise to address Mexico’s needs, from the building of public institutions to infrastructure development to civil policing. We should see in Mexico opportunities to develop our relations and our economies.” He went on to say, “What does this mean for Canada and the Canada-U.S. relationship? In my view, it means that we must once again look at the relationship in a continental context. We must see our own future in the future of North America.” Trudeau also proposed creating a special cabinet committee to manage Canada-U.S. relations and promised to work towards reducing barriers to trade and commerce between both countries. Furthermore, he pledged to push for a North American agreement on clean energy and the environment. <a name='more'></a> <br />
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In June 2015, the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade issued its report, <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/412/aefa/rep/rep10jun15-e.pdf">North American Neighbours: Maximizing Opportunities and Strengthening Cooperation for a More Prosperous Future</a>. The policy paper recommended, “The Government of Canada explore opportunities for Canada-Mexico cooperation on governance, security and rule of law issues of mutual interest, such as law enforcement and judicial capacity building.” It also identified energy, supply chain infrastructure and harmonizing regulations as some of the areas that should be addressed trilaterally. A <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/412/aefa/press/11jun15-e.htm">news release</a> described how, “Trilateral cooperation between Canada, the United States and Mexico on issues of mutual interest holds great promise for increasing North America’s future competitiveness and prosperity.” At the same time, the Committee conceded, “Geographic, linguistic and other factors have prevented the Canada-Mexico relationship from reaching its full potential. Canada’s relationship with Mexico should be an important focus.” They concluded that, “A stronger partnership with Mexico is a key way to strengthen the trilateral approach to North American relations.” <br />
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After becoming Canada’s new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau reaffirmed his commitment to building better continental relations. Some of the key objectives highlighted in the <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-international-trade-mandate-letter">Minister of International Trade Mandate Letter</a> are to, “strengthen our relationship with our North American partners, advance bilateral and trilateral initiatives to reduce impediments to trade between our countries and to strengthen North America’s global competitiveness.” An important part of the Canada-U.S. relationship is the <a href="http://www.trade.gov/rcc/">Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> and the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/beyond-border">Beyond the Border</a> deal, which promotes economic competitiveness and a perimeter approach to security. In March 2015, both countries signed an <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=950429">Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance</a>, but it has yet to be implemented. Trudeau will get an opportunity to discuss border security, energy, climate change and trade, along with other bilateral issues when he <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/12/28/statement-press-secretary-official-visit-canadian-prime-minister-justin">meets with President Barack Obama</a> on March 10 in Washington.<br />
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Some of the important priorities listed in the <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-foreign-affairs-mandate-letter">Minister of Foreign Affairs Mandate Letter</a> are to, “Improve relations with the United States, our closest ally and most important economic and security partner, and strengthen trilateral North American cooperation.” This includes working to lift the Mexican visa requirement, which was imposed by the previous Conservative government and deeply resented in Mexico. Also high on the agenda is developing a continent-wide clean energy and environment agreement, as well as preparing for the next trilateral leaders summit that will be hosted by Canada sometime this year. At the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/19/joint-statement-north-american-leaders-21st-century-north-america-buildi">2014 North American Leaders Summit</a>, the U.S., Canada and Mexico agreed to enhance energy collaboration, develop a continental transportation plan and establish a North American trusted traveler program. Last year, they <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/news/2015/08/05/united-states-announces-trilateral-agreement-canada-and-mexico-expand-trusted">announced an agreement to expand trusted traveler programs</a>, which is the first steps toward the creation of a North American Trusted Traveler network. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper was scheduled to host the 2015 leaders summit, but he <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-summit-keystone-idUSKBN0KO1U620150115">postponed the meeting</a> amid tension between Canada and the U.S. over the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which was pending at the time.<br />
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On November 6, 2015, President Obama formally <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/06/statement-president-keystone-xl-pipeline">rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline</a>, arguing that project would not serve the country's national interests and how it would undercut U.S. climate global leadership. While Obama admitted Prime Minister Trudeau was disappointed by the decision, he also pointed out how both leaders, “agreed that our close friendship on a whole range of issues, including energy and climate change, should provide the basis for even closer coordination.” A <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2015/11/06/statement-prime-minister-canada-keystone-xl-pipeline">statement by Prime Minister Trudeau insisted</a>, “The Canada-U.S. relationship is much bigger than any one project and I look forward to a fresh start with President Obama to strengthen our remarkable ties in a spirit of friendship and co-operation.” Although the decision is a setback in enhancing North American energy integration, it does nevertheless provide an opportunity for both countries to reset relations. Just days after TransCanada was denied a permit for the Keystone XL, they were <a href="http://www.transcanada.com/news-releases-article.html?id=2001580&t=">awarded a contract to build the Tuxpan-Tula Pipeline in Mexico</a>. The company also recently <a href="http://www.transcanada.com/news-releases-article.html?id=2014960&t=">launched a lawsuit over the Keystone decision</a>. Under Chapter 11 of NAFTA, corporations have the power to challenge governmental laws and regulations that restrict their profits.<br />
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Before the Obama administration rejected Keystone, Democratic presidential candidate <a href="https://medium.com/@HillaryClinton/why-i-oppose-keystone-xl-8698230df2a8#.8lf0gtsvn">Hillary Clinton came out against the pipeline</a>. She stressed that, “Building a clean, secure, and affordable North American energy future is bigger than Keystone XL or any other single project.” Clinton followed this up by unveiling her, <a href="https://www.hillaryclinton.com/p/briefing/factsheets/2015/09/23/hillary-clinton-vision-for-modernizing-energy-infrastructure/">Vision for Modernizing North American Energy Infrastructure</a>, which links the continent’s energy and climate objectives. If elected president, she has vowed to, “launch negotiations with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to secure a North American Climate Compact that includes ambitious national targets, coordinated policy approaches, and strong accountability measures.” With the creation of the <a href="http://energy.gov/articles/north-american-energy-ministers-establish-working-group-climate-change-and-energy">Trilateral Working Group on Climate Change and Energy</a> back in May 2015, the North American partners have already laid the foundation for closer cooperation on energy and the environment. <br />
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During his presidency, George W. Bush pursued deeper North American ties through the <a href="http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050323-4.html">Security and Prosperity Partnership</a>. Now the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth program is continuing with this agenda. They’ve launched a <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/economic-growth/north-america-competiveness-initiative">North America Competitiveness Initiative</a>, which aims to further strengthen continental economic integration. In November 2015, they released the <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/scorecard/">North America Competitiveness Scorecard</a>, “as a tool to compare the competitive position of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as a region, relative to other major economic regions and countries with large economies.” While North America earned a B+, the scorecard also identified areas where improvements could be made. A working group is currently developing a list of policy recommendations on issues regarding energy, human capital, and border infrastructure. The Bush Institute's Director of Economic Growth <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/blog/2015/11/02/why-north-america-matters">Matt Rooney stated</a>, “The key to the prosperity and security of the American people lies in a closer North American economic relationship — in embracing the de facto North American community that has long existed and shaping it to ensure that it continues to enhance our security and prosperity.”<br />
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As part of efforts to encourage trilateral cooperation at a state and provincial level, the first-ever <a href="http://www.nga.org/cms/home/news-room/news-releases/2015--news-releases/col2-content/north-american-leaders-summit.html">Summit of North American Governors and Premiers</a> was held in October 2015. Mexican State Governor, Eruviel Avila Villegas acknowledged, “We are living at an historic juncture, where local governments are becoming key transformation agents and the source of international cooperation efforts. The origin of this summit represents a big step toward the building of a North American community.” When the event was first announced, a <a href="http://www.nga.org/cms/home/news-room/news-releases/2015--news-releases/col2-content/first-ever-summit-of-north-ameri.html">press release</a> explained that the summit would, “focus on promoting economic development and trade through improvements and innovations in infrastructure and supply chain management, education, energy technology and culture.” Regional collaboration is already taking place through forums such as, the <a href="http://councilgreatlakesregion.org/about-cglr/">Council of the Great Lakes Region</a> and the <a href="http://www.coneg.org/negecp">Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers</a>. In an effort to <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/to-cross-border-trade-and-beyond/article22993056/">expand economic relations and advance cross-border trade</a>, U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman has sent letters to the governors of all 50 U.S. states urging them to visit Canada. In the coming years, subnational governments will play a even greater role with respect to North American integration. <br />
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On October 5, 2015, negotiations concluded on the <a href="https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2015/october/trans-pacific-partnership-ministers">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a> (TPP), which includes Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the U.S., and Vietnam. The massive Pacific Rim trade pact is scheduled to be <a href="http://beehive.govt.nz/release/trade-minister-releases-tpp-signing-date?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beehive-govt-nz%2Fportfolio%2Ftrade+%28Trade+-+beehive.govt.nz%29">formally signed on February 4 in New Zealand</a>, but it will still need to be ratified by each of the member nations. Like other trade agreements that have come before it, the TPP will ultimately fail to deliver on the promise of economic growth and prosperity. The controversial deal poses significant threats to internet freedom, food safety, public health and the environment. It includes NAFTA-style investor rights that allows corporations to sue governments over decisions that may affect their future profits. The agreement contains <a href="https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/trans-pacific-partnership/tpp-full-text">thousands of pages</a> of legal text and technical language, which covers a lot more than just trade. With the U.S., Canada and Mexico all a part of the TPP, it amounts to a complete renegotiation of NAFTA through the backdoor. <br />
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The TPP marks another step towards greater regional cooperation and integration. The U.S.-driven trade deal changes how member countries manage their economies and businesses. It sets the rules for a new global economic order, which would further erode national sovereignty. The TPP together with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are part of plans to merge North America with Asia and Europe. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/12/the-renewed-push-for-deeper-north_29.html">The Renewed Push for Deeper North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/11/building-new-north-american-partnership.html">Building a New North American Partnership for the Future</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/03/nafta-partners-pushing-north-american.html">NAFTA Partners Pushing North American Competitiveness Integration Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/05/trilateral-defense-minister-meeting.html">Trilateral Defense Ministers Meeting Continues to Build North American Security Framework</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-52714525183835109782014-12-29T17:09:00.000-08:002014-12-31T05:00:03.426-08:00The Renewed Push for Deeper North American Integration By Dana Gabriel<br />
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The globalist plan to incrementally merge the U.S., Canada and Mexico into a North American Union has been ongoing for years. While at times, the agenda appears to have seemingly stalled, current efforts to expand the trilateral partnership show that it is alive and once again gaining steam. With NAFTA as the foundation, the renewed push for deeper North American integration continues on many different fronts.<br />
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The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), recently issued the report, <a href="http://www.ceocouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Made-in-North-America-paper-Nov-2014-FINAL-2-Dec-2014.pdf">Made in North America: a new agenda to sharpen our competitive edge</a>. The CCCE is one of Canada’s most influential corporate lobby groups, with many of their proposals shaping the country’s domestic and foreign policy priorities. Throughout the years, they have pushed for deeper continental integration. With the 2015 North American Leaders Summit in mind, the CCCE offered a series of recommendations aimed at further expanding the trilateral relationship in areas such as border management, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and regulatory cooperation. The report stated, “We need trilateral agreement on future directions, a clear commitment from the three leaders, and a central agency in each government with the responsibility to coordinate effective and efficient implementation. By pursuing a strategic plan of intelligent change and reform, our three nations can lead the world economy for years to come.” The CCCE also acknowledged how their policy paper is intended to complement the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) report, <a href="http://www.cfr.org/north-america/north-america/p33536">North America: Time for a New Focus</a>, which was released several months ago. <a name='more'></a> <br />
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The fourth annual <a href="http://www.nacic2014.com/">North American Competitiveness and Innovation Conference</a> (NACIC) was held at the end of October and brought together government officials, policy experts and business leaders from all three countries. Among the attendees were U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Canada's Minister of International Trade Edward Fast and Mexico's Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal. In a <a href="http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2014/11/01/statement-canada-united-states-and-mexico-north-american-competitiven">joint statement</a>, they pledged to enhance trade and to deepen their economic relationship through the development and advancement of a North American competitiveness work plan. Minister Fast pointed to <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/media/comm/photos/2014/10/31b.aspx?lang=eng">more trilateral cooperation</a> as key to increasing competitiveness. In a <a href="http://www.commerce.gov/news/secretary-speeches/2014/10/30/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-discusses-us-canada-trade-an">speech</a> given before attending the NACIC, Secretary Pritzker also discussed the opportunity to upgrade NAFTA through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which she described as the next chapter in North American economic integration.<br />
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On December 15, at the <a href="http://energy.gov/articles/north-american-energy-ministers-meeting">North American Energy Ministers Meeting</a>, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Greg Rickford and Mexico’s Secretary of Energy Pedro Joaquin Coldwell took steps to promote continental energy security and collaboration. This includes strengthening government-to-government relationships and supporting business-to-business engagement in the energy sector. The ministers also committed to working together to establish best practices for oil and gas development and to modernize North America’s energy infrastructure. In addition, they signed a <a href="http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/publications/16818">Memorandum of Understanding</a> to improve cooperation on sharing energy public data, statistics and mapping information. As oil prices continue to slide, <a href="http://www.colinrobertson.ca/?p=1285">Colin Robertson</a>, Vice President of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, believes what North America really needs is a common energy strategy. In advance of the trilateral energy minsters meeting, he argued how, “Mexico’s ambitious reforms, the energy industry’s commitment to innovation, and shifting geopolitics create new opportunities. A North American energy strategy would be a great leap forward in continental economic integration.” <br />
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Earlier this month, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a possible candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination visited Canada, where he discussed energy and trade issues. During a <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552014/approved/20141204a.html">speech</a> at the Calgary Petroleum Club, he called for approval the Keystone XL pipeline, which would link Canada’s oil sands to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries. Christie stressed that delays have hurt Canada-U.S. relations. He also explained that, “Keystone is perhaps the most visible pending energy project on our continent, but it is far from the only one. As a general matter, we need to reduce regulatory uncertainty and increase the speed and transparency of the American project approval process.” This ties into <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3301">H.R.3301 - the North American Energy Infrastructure Act</a>, which is designed to streamline the cross-border permit process and prevent long delays to projects like the Keystone XL. In the end, if President Barack Obama does reject the Keystone pipeline, some have warned that Canada could challenge the decision as a <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/11/terence-corcoran-how-obamas-position-on-keystone-is-a-blatant-rejection-of-naftas-principles/">breach of NAFTA’s principles</a>.<br />
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As part of his speech, Governor Christie further highlighted the North American partnership and noted that, “the Council on Foreign Relations released a new report of a task force headed by General David Petraeus and my friend Bob Zoellick, former President of the World Bank. The report talks about how focusing on and strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Canada --- and Mexico - can increase our competitiveness and our mutual influence in the world. I couldn't agree more.” He went on to say, “In the last few years, the leadership of the United States government has not always placed sufficient priority on North America. This is a mistake and a missed opportunity.” Christie’s message was similar to the one he <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552014/approved/20140903d.html">delivered in Mexico</a> back in September, where he promoted North American energy cooperation and emphasized how U.S. foreign policy should focus on its neighbours first. <br />
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A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/us/politics/chris-christie-stumps-for-energy-if-not-for-2016-in-canada.html?_r=2">New York Times article</a> also shed more light on the strategy behind the New Jersey governor's trips to Mexico and Canada. They reported that, “Mr. Christie, who has limited experience in international affairs, is fashioning a foreign policy that is heavily grounded in North America, which he views as an overlooked domain in an era of international threats to the United States. It is an approach shaped heavily by informal advisers, including Robert B. Zoellick, the former United States trade representative under President George W. Bush, who said in an recent interview that he has encouraged Mr. Christie to think about the continental base.” Zoellick is the co-chair of the <a href="http://www.cfr.org/north-america/north-america/p33536">CFR Task Force report</a> and has urged 2016 presidential candidates to make North America a part of their foreign policy platform. In Christie, the CFR has found at least one potential candidate who is ready to champion for deeper North American integration.<br />
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In many ways, the conditions needed to further advance North American integration are more favourable than they've been in years, with recent changes presenting new opportunities. Whether it be an economic or security crisis, political instability or social unrest, the global elite will use any means necessary to move their agenda forward. Ultimately, the North American Union incremental steps of erasing continental borders, abolishing national sovereignty and consolidating power and wealth are part of a much larger plan to establish a one world economic system.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/11/building-new-north-american-partnership.html">Building a New North American Partnership for the Future</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/01/nafta-and-next-phase-of-north-american.html">NAFTA and the Next Phase of North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/03/nafta-partners-pushing-north-american.html">NAFTA Partners Pushing North American Competitiveness Integration Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/05/trilateral-defense-minister-meeting.html">Trilateral Defense Ministers Meeting Continues to Build North American Security Framework</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-6707738958600331402014-11-06T18:46:00.000-08:002015-11-26T17:46:30.355-08:00Building a New North American Partnership for the FutureBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuE_FqO_kyPJ41tiUxKuYb2zIfkiM6GMbH7hBM9xwk6Ag_7msW6lpA7uu-YK-ieWujI2mp3r_l98IZQHGt5dkFBR2amKJ9hD4Q8Su54JOTCa-os3ZFAM6IzyJYE-g8-8LesMHV83Ku8wzG/s1600/NAFTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuE_FqO_kyPJ41tiUxKuYb2zIfkiM6GMbH7hBM9xwk6Ag_7msW6lpA7uu-YK-ieWujI2mp3r_l98IZQHGt5dkFBR2amKJ9hD4Q8Su54JOTCa-os3ZFAM6IzyJYE-g8-8LesMHV83Ku8wzG/s320/NAFTA.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The globalist controlled Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) have called on the U.S. to work more closely with Canada and Mexico to build a new North American partnership for the future. The pivot to North America would focus on greater trilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, economic competitiveness, border management, law enforcement and continental perimeter security. Throughout the years, the incremental steps towards a North American Union have been used to further chip away at the sovereignty of all three NAFTA countries.<br />
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The CFR-sponsored <a href="http://www.cfr.org/projects/world/independent-task-force-on-north-america/pr1666">Independent Task Force on North America</a>, co-chaired by retired General David Petraeus and former president of the World Bank Robert Zoellick, recently released their report, <a href="http://www.cfr.org/north-america/north-america/p33536">North America: Time for a New Focus</a>. The Task Force maintained that, “Now is the moment for the United States to break free from old foreign policy biases to recognize that a stronger, more dynamic, resilient continental base will increase U.S. power globally.” They explained that, “If the three North American countries deepen their integration and cooperation, they have the potential to again shape world affairs for generations to come.” The Task Force also described how, “Recent developments have created opportunities for the North American countries to build on past work and to advance their partnership to a new stage.” The move by Mexico to open up its energy sector to private investment, along with increased oil and natural gas production in Canada and the U.S. are some of the driving forces behind the renewed push for deeper North American integration. <a name='more'></a> <br />
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The Task Force report highlighted the need to expand the North American energy relationship. This includes developing a regional energy strategy and strengthening continental energy infrastructure. The approval of Keystone XL pipeline, which would link Canada’s oil sands to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries was also at the top of Task Force to-do list. They acknowledged that, “delays have damaged U.S.-Canada relations and have the potential to slow, at the very least, greater North American energy integration.” As part of efforts to move beyond the dispute, both countries have signed a <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=885549">Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation</a> in areas such as research, regulation and trade. In an example of the importance that energy issues could play in the upcoming 2016 election, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a possible candidate for the Republican presidential nomination gave a speech in September, where he detailed <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552014/approved/20140903d.html">North America’s Energy Opportunity</a>. Not surprisingly, the majority of his policy ideas were in sync with the CFR’s Task Force recommendations.<br />
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The 2014 North American Leaders Summit also identified energy as a trilateral priority. In a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/19/joint-statement-north-american-leaders-21st-century-north-america-buildi">joint statement</a>, the leaders announced that the energy ministers from all three countries will meet later this year, “to discuss opportunities to promote common strategies on energy efficiency, infrastructure, innovation, renewable energy, unconventional energy sources, energy trade, and responsible resource development, including the development of relevant technical studies.” To help build on the trilateral energy meetings, the Task Force suggested, “the creation of a North American Energy Council to provide advice to federal policymakers and highlight issues that the three independent legislative branches could address.” The council’s responsibilities would include, “identifying improvements to the safety and security of cross-border energy infrastructure; areas for cooperation on environmental and safety standards; energy-efficient technologies and practices; and barriers to collaboration.” Although it has since been disbanded, the <a href="http://energy.gov/articles/north-american-energy-work-group-releases-updated-trilateral-energy-report">North American Energy Working Group</a> has already laid some of the groundwork with regards to trilateral energy integration.<br />
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In order to further establish an overall continental agenda, the Task Force argued for the restructuring of the U.S. federal government by, “creating new North American offices within the National Security Council staff and U.S. State Department.” This includes, “designating a senior U.S. official as the North American ‘champion’ who will press for consistent policies across agencies and topics.” The Task Force also encouraged, “greater U.S. congressional engagement with the Mexican congress and Canadian parliament.” In addition, they proposed that, “the U.S. government support interactions and possible cooperation among governors, premiers, mayors, legislators, and other officials.” Throughout the report, the Task Force emphasized that, “The goal should be trilateral where possible, bilateral where necessary.” While they praised the progress that separate U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico initiatives have made, they also pointed out that the continued reliance on some of these bilateral efforts has in many ways, “inhibited the development of a broader vision of North America.” <br />
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When it comes to North American regulatory issues, they are currently being managed through two separate bilateral bodies, the <a href="http://trade.gov/hlrcc/">U.S.-Mexico High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> (HLRCC) and the <a href="http://www.trade.gov/rcc/">U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> (RCC). As part of efforts to foster trilateral regulatory alignment, the Task Force recommended that, “each council identify particular regulatory topics that are candidates for mutual recognition or harmonization. The councils could also explore continental cooperation in creating new regulations. Canadian and Mexican observers should be able to attend the meetings of the other country and the United States.” In August, the U.S. and Canada released the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/oira/irc/us-canada-rcc-joint-forward-plan.pdf">RCC Joint Forward Plan</a>, which builds on the initial 2011 <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/us-canada_rcc_joint_action_plan3.pdf">Joint Action Plan</a>. Not only does it deepen cooperation in new areas, but it sets the stage for regulatory departments and agencies in both countries to essentially become permanent bedfellows. The new regulatory plan also noted that, “As part of the 2014 North American Leaders Summit commitments, representatives from the Mexican Government will be invited to observe the government-to-government and stakeholder sessions.” This also applies to Canadian officials being able sit in on the HLRCC meetings. The NAFTA partners are taking steps to promote trilateral regulatory convergence. <br />
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As far as border security goes, North America operates within the confines of two bilateral frameworks, the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/beyond-border-shared-vision-perimeter-security-and-economic-competitiveness">U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border</a> agreement, as well as the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/21st-century-border-comprehensive-response-commitment">U.S.-Mexico Twenty-First Century Border Management</a> initiative. The Task Force stressed that, “Bilateral security efforts can often make it easier to solve problems and develop border management models. However, by emphasizing the differences between the U.S.-Canadian and the U.S.-Mexican security relationships, rather than the commonalities, the United States forgoes advantages of a continental approach.” Instead, the Task Force favored, “working toward a long-term goal of a unified security strategy for North America. This process could begin by expanding bilateral security programs to include Mexico. U.S.-Canadian programs could be incorporated into the U.S.-Mexico Twenty-First Century Border Management initiative.” At the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/09/09/readout-third-annual-canada-us-beyond-border-executive-steering-committee">Third Annual Beyond the Border Executive Steering Committee</a>, “An observer from the Mexican Foreign Ministry was present in line with the commitment of the North American Leaders’ Summit to have observers attend the respective meetings of the Mexico-U.S. 21st Century Border Meeting and the BTB Executive Steering Committee.” This is part of efforts to link the two bilateral border arrangements and to see if lessons can be applied from one initiative to the other.<br />
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With the goal of better protecting North America from outside threats, the Task Force has called on the U.S. to, “shift from border-centric security toward a strategy of combining perimeter protection with security in depth through the use of intelligence, risk assessment, shared capabilities, and joint actions throughout the region.” The report went on to say, “To gain the full benefits of continental integration, the North American partners need to face common threats together. Terrorists, criminal and narcotics organizations, cyberattacks, and disease pose dangers to all three.” Some of these security issues are being addressed through the <a href="http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16664">Meeting of North American Defense Ministers</a>, but the Task Force is pushing for more bilateral security initiatives to be expanded trilaterally. To advance shared continental perimeter security, they proposed that Mexico also be included, “in the <a href="http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ibet-eipf/shiprider-eng.htm">U.S.-Canada Shiprider program</a>, which permits joint cross-border law enforcement operations in the maritime environment, and the <a href="http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ibet-eipf/index-eng.htm">Integrated Border Enforcement Teams</a> (IBETs), which are U.S. and Canadian multiagency law enforcement groups that focus on cross-border criminal activity.” Many of the Task Force recommendations would further lay the foundation for a fully integrated North American security perimeter.<br />
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In a <a href="http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/letter-steadfast-support-to-canada">letter</a> following the recent attacks in Canada, the co-chairs of the CFR Task Force, David Petraeus and Robert Zoellick offered their sympathy and support. They referred to themselves as North Americans and stated how, “The tragic events in Canada further underscore the importance of the partnership between our three countries.” During his visit to Canada, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also expressed his condolences and pledged to further strengthen both countries security relationship in the fight against terrorism. At a <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/10/233468.htm">joint press conference</a> with Foreign Minister John Baird, Secretary Kerry pointed out that the U.S. and Canada would, “continue to intensify our law enforcement, border security and intelligence sharing.” Now might be the perfect opportunity for both countries to finally unveil the Next Generation pilot project, which was scheduled to be launched back in 2012. The joint policing initiative is a component of the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Beyond the Border Action Plan</a> and would allow teams of cross-designated officers to operate on both sides of the border in areas such as intelligence and criminal investigations. According to an <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/07/30/us_wants_exemption_from_canadian_law_for_crossborder_officers_rcmp_memo_says.html">RCMP memo</a>, it has been delayed due to a U.S. request that its agents be exempt from Canadian law, which has raised serious concerns regarding sovereignty and police accountability. The bilateral program is part of the process of further acclimating joint law enforcement operations in North America.<br />
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The Conservative government is using the recent attacks in Canada to further erode democratic freedoms. They have introduced new draconian anti-terrorism laws that would expand police surveillance powers. The door has also been opened for even deeper North American integration in the areas of border security, counter-terrorism and law enforcement, which could require further merging security and intelligence sharing practices with the Department of Homeland Security. An increased continental approach to security could serve to bind North America into a single foreign policy entity.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/05/trilateral-defense-minister-meeting.html">Trilateral Defense Ministers Meeting Continues to Build North American Security Framework</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/03/nafta-partners-pushing-north-american.html">NAFTA Partners Pushing North American Competitiveness Integration Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/01/nafta-and-next-phase-of-north-american.html">NAFTA and the Next Phase of North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/10/increasing-data-collection-and.html">Increasing Data Collection and Surveillance in the North American Homeland</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-15412286083744740252014-05-21T17:06:00.000-07:002014-05-22T08:20:19.816-07:00Trilateral Defense Ministers Meeting Continues to Build North American Security FrameworkBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4P_tVgLNGU47QS_gGWSU3v9VQd7Oet_0AKv8HS95m0L9EUW5QRmOq67GSCwYbMXk2VzYWyOBhEOa8QSDecOeLftdbovKL3fmFTLhfu9R0927HLqZgF3n5844hXLMwA6j8MtnW1adEWsk/s1600/1297553858044_ORIGINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4P_tVgLNGU47QS_gGWSU3v9VQd7Oet_0AKv8HS95m0L9EUW5QRmOq67GSCwYbMXk2VzYWyOBhEOa8QSDecOeLftdbovKL3fmFTLhfu9R0927HLqZgF3n5844hXLMwA6j8MtnW1adEWsk/s400/1297553858044_ORIGINAL.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As an extension of the North American Leaders Summit which was held in February, the defense ministers from the U.S., Canada and Mexico quietly met last month to discuss continental security issues. During the conference, they addressed shared defense and security challenges. This includes threats posed by cyber attacks and transnational criminal organizations. The North American security relationship has evolved with Mexico being increasingly viewed as a valued part of the continental defense team. The U.S., Canada and Mexico are building the framework for greater cooperation on common security issues. They are expanding security arrangements and are further establishing new institutions at a continental level. The trilateral defense ministers meeting, which received very little media attention is part of the process of integrating military planning and coordination into a North American security perimeter. <br />
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On April 24, Mexico's Secretary of National Defense General Salvador Zepeda Cienfuegos and Naval Secretary Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberon Sanz hosted the <a href="http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/canada_eng/index.php/press-releases/567-april-2014/5420-secretaries-of-national-defence-and-the-navy-participate-in-second-trilateral-meeting-of-north-american-defence-ministers-">Second Trilateral Meeting of North American Defense Ministers</a> with their counterparts, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Canadian Defense Minister Robert Nicholson. A <a href="http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=16664">joint statement</a> explained that, “Threats to North America and the hemisphere are increasingly complex and require coordinated responses. Building upon the trilateral collaboration under the North American Leaders Summit process, we remain committed to enhancing our common understanding of those threats and developing effective and efficient approaches needed to address them.” It went on to say, “With this foundation, our countries continue to work together to address the security and defense challenges that our continent faces. We acknowledge that transnational threats require transnational responses and are committed to furthering our collaboration.” The <a href="http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15141">Inaugural Meeting of North American Defense Ministers</a> was held in March 2012. <a name='more'></a><br />
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The ministers joint statement also identified specific areas where they seek to expand trilateral defense cooperation. This includes working together to strengthen hemispheric defense forums, developing an updated continental threat assessment, identifying opportunities to synchronize security on the southern border, as well as sharing information regarding cyber defense challenges. In his <a href="http://www.defense.gov/Speeches/Speech.aspx?SpeechID=1839">speech at the trilateral meeting</a>, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel acknowledged that, “Cyber security is another threat, like transnational crime, that knows no borders.” With that in mind, he proposed that all three countries, “establish a cyber-working group to identify potential opportunities to work together to share best practices and lessons learned.” During their meetings, Secretary Hagel also noted that the defense ministers agreed that, “combatting transnational crime at the strategic level is best addressed by the security group under the North American Leaders Summit.” Nevertheless, he emphasized that, “we need to ensure that coordination at the tactical and operational level continues.”<br />
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In his speech which focused on security issues facing North America, Secretary Hagel further elaborated on how the trilateral defense meeting is, “moving beyond the concept stage and is becoming a venue to develop new opportunities for deeper collaboration and new approaches to more effectively address shared threats and challenges. We have identified important areas where we can work together as equal partners. As we move forward, the discussions today will further strengthen the foundation for continued cooperation in meeting defense and security requirements for our three nations.” In order to continue their important trilateral dialogue, Secretary Hagel has offered to host the next defense ministerial in 2016.<br />
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Back in February, Canada and Mexico also <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/02/18/canada-further-strengthens-defence-relations-mexico">announced plans to further strengthen defense relations</a>. As part of the trilateral defense meeting, they officially signed the <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=842249">Declaration of Intent on Defense Cooperation</a>. The agreement, “further solidifies defense relations between Canada and Mexico, and demonstrates commitment by both countries to continue cooperation in areas such as military training, support to civilian authorities, defense research, defense materiel cooperation, defense industry matters, as well as other areas of importance to defense and security.” Canadian Defense Minister Robert Nicholson described how, “The Trilateral Meeting of North American Defense Ministers has given us a valuable opportunity to further deepen our cooperation and collaboration towards our common goals of ensuring the security of our citizens, and our continent. Signing the Declaration of Intent on Defense Cooperation with Mexico is a demonstration of this cooperation and collaboration, and shows Canada’s commitment to deepening the defense component of Canada’s longstanding, friendly relations with Mexico.”<br />
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Increased U.S. interest in continental defense continues to have an impact on Canadian and Mexican security policy. Both countries are further adopting American security priorities, which raises concerns regarding sovereignty. Under the guise of stopping drug and illicit arms trafficking, the U.S. seeks to further extend its military and security apparatus into other regions. The trilateral defense ministers meeting is part of the ongoing efforts to establish a fully integrated continental security perimeter and represents another important step towards a North American Union. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/03/nafta-partners-pushing-north-american.html">NAFTA Partners Pushing North American Competitiveness Integration Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/10/increasing-data-collection-and.html">Increasing Data Collection and Surveillance in the North American Homeland</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/02/us-canada-strengthening-security.html">Strengthening U.S.-Canada Security Interests in North America</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/06/perimeter-security-and-integrated-north.html">U.S.-Canada Perimeter Security and an Integrated North American Command</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-83514497421408303782014-03-03T19:05:00.001-08:002014-11-07T19:57:03.219-08:00NAFTA Partners Pushing North American Competitiveness Integration AgendaBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDE5xBFTk4t2E_N3zhImqmaoHbDeHCC2LLuxzh5AYFwEJsAL7jPORB-TzppGFYsTa5rAU8RhHjSOto31AIf94WG0IEmWLRsxnrqDkb-ydi9bZdA9Ld2anrMp5WU_1_RfSP2hcxVrBmupxj/s1600/0220-world-omonarchstep_full_380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDE5xBFTk4t2E_N3zhImqmaoHbDeHCC2LLuxzh5AYFwEJsAL7jPORB-TzppGFYsTa5rAU8RhHjSOto31AIf94WG0IEmWLRsxnrqDkb-ydi9bZdA9Ld2anrMp5WU_1_RfSP2hcxVrBmupxj/s400/0220-world-omonarchstep_full_380.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The recent North American Leaders Summit in Mexico was seen as a perfect opportunity to try and kickstart the trilateral partnership. While there was no headline grabbers or major breakthroughs, the NAFTA partners still moved forward on some crucial issues that centered around North American competitiveness. They developed a shared set of priorities and established a roadmap for enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, transportation, energy, as well as border facilitation. This includes creating a North American trusted traveler program which is part of ongoing efforts to establish a fully integrated continental security perimeter. During separate bilateral meetings, Canada and Mexico also took steps towards strengthening political, economic and security ties. <br />
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On February 18, in advance of the North American Leaders Summit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper held discussions with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. After their meeting, they signed a number of deals designed to further deepen bilateral relations. This includes two agreements which <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/node/35100">promote new trade opportunities</a> between Canada and Mexico. They also announced a <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/02/18/canada-further-strengthens-defence-relations-mexico">declaration of intent to expand defence cooperation</a>, “which demonstrates a continued commitment by both countries to work together on security issues facing North America.” It is scheduled to be officially signed in April and, “will outline the manner in which enhanced bilateral cooperation will take place in areas such as military training, and defence research and materiel.” The two leaders also renewed the <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/02/18/2014-2016-canada-mexico-joint-action-plan">Canada-Mexico Joint Action Plan</a> that provides a framework for engagement on important issues such as fostering competitive and sustainable economies, protecting our citizens, enhancing people-to-people contacts, as well as projecting our partnership globally and regionally. <a name='more'></a><br />
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In the report <a href="http://www.ceocouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Canadas-trade-with-Mexico-Laura-Dawson-February-2014.pdf">Canada’s Trade With Mexico: Where we’ve been, where we’re going and why it matters</a>, Laura Dawson, “examines the development of, and prospects for, the Canada-Mexico economic relationship and identifies key areas for future action.” The policy paper proposed increasing the number of state visits, parliamentary exchanges and trade missions between both countries. It recommended enhancing cooperation between Canada and Mexico in the energy and mining sectors. The report also encouraged all three NAFTA partners to improve progress in both regulatory and border facilitation programs and emphasized the need for closer collaboration on trade negotiations of mutual interest. Furthermore, it called on Canada to remove or reform the visa requirement for Mexican nationals which was imposed in 2009 in an effort to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130407085308/http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2009/2009-07-13.asp">curb an increase of bogus asylum claims</a>. The issue has been a source of tension between both countries. Before Prime Minister Harper’s trip to Mexico, business leaders urged him to <a href="http://www.ceocouncil.ca/news-item/visa-requirements-mexican-travellers-lifted-manley-says">lift the visa requirements for Mexican travellers</a>. While the dispute wasn‘t resolved during his recent visit, Canada and Mexico signed an expanded <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/02/18/pm-participates-signing-canada-mexico-air-transport-agreement">air transport agreement</a> which could serve as a precursor to eventually eliminating the visa restrictions. <br />
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U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto met in Toluca, Mexico on February 19, for the North American Leaders Summit. In a joint statement entitled <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/19/joint-statement-north-american-leaders-21st-century-north-america-buildi">21st Century North America: Building the Most Competitive and Dynamic Region in the World</a>, the leaders, “committed to developing a North American Competitiveness work plan, focused on investment, innovation and increased private sector engagement.” They also agreed to, “develop a North American Transportation Plan, beginning with a regional freight plan and building on existing initiatives.” In addition, the leaders pledged to, “streamline procedures and harmonize customs data requirements for traders and visitors.” This includes efforts to, “facilitate the movement of people through the establishment in 2014 of a North American Trusted Traveller Program.” The leaders also vowed to, “set new standards for global trade through the prompt conclusion of a high standard, ambitious, and comprehensive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).” All three NAFTA partners, along with nine other countries are a part of the TPP trade deal which is currently being negotiated behind closed doors and is being pushed by big corporations. <br />
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In conjunction with the trilateral leaders summit, President Obama signed an <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/19/executive-order-streamlining-exportimport-process-america-s-businesses">Executive Order on Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses</a>. A move that the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/19/obama-mexico-summit-trade-executive-order-congress">Guardian described</a> as, “a gesture of defiance toward allies in Congress who are hampering his ability to negotiate controversial trade liberalisation agreements.” The article went on to say, “attempts to extend NAFTA to a broader Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with Asian economies have divided Democrats in Washington who fear its impact on manufacturing jobs, leaving Obama without the authority of Congress to negotiate final details of the deal.” The Obama administration’s Fast Track trade agenda also suffered another blow when high-level TPP meetings in Singapore missed another deadline and <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26334651">failed to finalize an agreement</a>. The growing domestic and international opposition to the secret trade talks have put the Globalists plan to use the TPP to upgrade and expand NAFTA to more countries in serious jeopardy. <br />
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The recent leaders summit also represented an opportunity to begin work on formulating a coordinated North American energy strategy. New energy reforms passed in December of last year have <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25350993">opened up Mexico’s state-controlled energy sector</a> and would allow foreign corporations to explore and extract oil and gas. This has the potential to lead to greater energy cooperation between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. In the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/19/joint-statement-north-american-leaders-21st-century-north-america-buildi">leaders joint statement</a>, energy was identified as a trilateral priority. Later this year, the energy ministers from each country will meet, “to discuss opportunities to promote common strategies on energy efficiency, infrastructure, innovation, renewable energy, unconventional energy sources, energy trade, and responsible resource development.” With the region in the midst of an oil and gas boom, some believe that the next big step should be a <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2014/02/19/pemex-ceo-proposes-nafta-type-deal-to-transform-north-america-into-an-energy-superpower/?__lsa=032e-6af6">NAFTA deal on energy</a> which could transform North America into a regional energy superpower. In the coming years, energy integration will play an even bigger part in North American relations. <br />
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Energy is already an important component of the U.S.-Canada relationship, but the long-delayed approval of the <a href="http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html">Keystone XL pipeline</a> has caused some friction between both countries. The controversial project would carry oil from western Canada to the Texas gulf coast. While pushing for U.S. approval of the oil pipeline was one of Prime Minister Harper’s key objectives during meetings with President Obama at the gathering of the North American leaders, no new progress was made on the issue. Even before the summit, Harper maintained that <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2014/02/10/keystone-oil-pipeline-harper/?__lsa=9725-4c0c">if Obama doesn’t approve the pipeline, another president will</a>. On January 31, the U.S. State Department released its <a href="http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/finalseis/index.htm">final environmental impact assessment </a>of the Keystone XL pipeline. A 90-day review period is now under way where different U.S. agencies will be able to comment on whether the proposed pipeline is in the national interest. It is unclear when President Obama will make his final decision, but efforts to block the project scored a recent victory when a <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/nebraska-law-that-allowed-keystone-xl-pipeline-struck-down-1.1694423">law was struck down</a> that allowed the pipeline to proceed through Nebraska. While proponents have argued that it would go a long way in advancing North American energy security and independence, critics have warned about environmental issues associated with the Keystone pipeline.<br />
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Going into the North American Leaders Summit, there were various disputes between the NAFTA partners which threatened to derail the event. Nevertheless, the leaders managed to put on a united front. They committed to pushing a North American competitiveness agenda, along with other priority areas for action. In the end, any success at this year’s trilateral meeting will not be able to be properly measured until the next leaders summit which will be hosted by Prime Minister Harper in 2015. At that point, we will have a better indication on any progress that was made in implementing key deliverables that were announced and not to mention any subsequent initiatives that are also later launched. Although some of the buzz words have changed and the path towards achieving deeper integration has been altered, the goal for a North American Union remains the same.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2014/01/nafta-and-next-phase-of-north-american.html">NAFTA and the Next Phase of North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/04/nafta-partners-take-steps-to-boost_09.html">NAFTA Partners Take Steps to Boost Trilateral Relationship</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/10/increasing-data-collection-and.html">Increasing Data Collection and Surveillance in the North American Homeland</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-88791443543983166932014-01-27T18:11:00.001-08:002014-11-03T19:06:13.472-08:00NAFTA and the Next Phase of North American IntegrationBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEoI4M5XNX4FIRtseCMueQd5dnZJKZwi4t4h54TxTaMAZ4XB96vUNDmOYzz8htL-QcgWQraBBvFllfG425OyXdrec8KWS9ZlZpg9BqakgZM1Lc32cKluHjqZNmbmmNapFN2o01c_MAHuP/s1600/images8S7UA80I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEoI4M5XNX4FIRtseCMueQd5dnZJKZwi4t4h54TxTaMAZ4XB96vUNDmOYzz8htL-QcgWQraBBvFllfG425OyXdrec8KWS9ZlZpg9BqakgZM1Lc32cKluHjqZNmbmmNapFN2o01c_MAHuP/s400/images8S7UA80I.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In preparation for the upcoming North American Leaders Summit which will be held in Toluca, Mexico on February 19, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently held a meeting with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts. Over the last number of years, not as much attention has been given to the trilateral relationship. Instead, the U.S. has essentially pursued a dual-bilateral approach with both Canada and Mexico on key issues including border and continental perimeter security, as well as regulatory and energy cooperation. On the heels of its 20th anniversary, there once again appears to be renewed interest in broadening and deepening the NAFTA partnership as part of the next phase of North American integration.<br />
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On January 17, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hosted the <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/01/220006.htm">North American Ministerial</a> with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and Mexican Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade. The discussions centered around topics such as regulatory, energy and trade relations, along with border infrastructure and management. The meeting was used to lay the groundwork for next month’s <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/13/readout-president-s-call-president-pe-nieto-mexico">North American Leaders Summit</a> which will include the participation of U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. During a press conference, a reporter asked about reopening NAFTA in order to update it. Secretary Kerry answered, “the TPP, is a very critical component of sort of moving to the next tier, post-NAFTA. So I don’t think you have to open up NAFTA, per se, in order to achieve what we’re trying to achieve.” Minister Baird added, “we believe that NAFTA’s been an unqualified success, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations, which all three of us are in, offer us the opportunity to strengthen the trilateral partnership.” Secretary Meade also chimed in, “We do not think it is necessary to reopen NAFTA, but we think we have to build on it to construct and revitalize the idea of a dynamic North America.” <a name='more'></a><br />
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In December 2013, the <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/andres-oppenheimer/article1958532.html">Miami Herald reported</a> that the Obama administration, “is exploring a regional trade plan for the Americas that would be the most ambitious hemispheric initiative in years.” It went on to say that Secretary of State John Kerry, “would like to first seek an agreement to deepen the existing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada, and to expand it afterward to the rest of Latin America.” According to some of Kerry’s top aides, “the plan to relaunch NAFTA could come as early as February, when President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts at a North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico.” The recent article, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/01/15/us_lays_out_goals_for_north_american_free_trade_agreement.html#Scene_1">U.S. lays out goals for NAFTA</a> cautioned that, “the shared goal of a NAFTA 2.0 that wins fresh, sustainable gains for Canada, Mexico and the U.S., the Americans warn, is unlikely to come in a single, dramatic and easily digestible sound byte.” It further noted that, “Instead, the Americans are urging a more realistic approach aimed at reviving trilateral momentum, with a dogged diplomatic effort that aggressively fine-tunes, streamlines and expands the trade pact.” <br />
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Last year, business leaders from across North America released a set of policy recommendations designed to increase continental economic integration and competitiveness. In a <a href="http://www.ceocouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/10-03-13-North-American-CEOs-Letter-Final.pdf">letter</a> issued to President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Enrique Pena Nieto, the Business Roundtable, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Consejo Mexicano de Hombres de Negocios called for greater trilateral government action in the areas of intelligent border systems, regulatory standards and practices, as well as North American energy security and sustainability. The business organizations explained that, “More can and should be done to promote regulatory cooperation between our three countries, to facilitate the legitimate movement of people, goods and services.” They emphasized that the time to act was now and that their specific proposals would, “help deepen our economic ties, strengthen the international competitiveness of Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. companies and their workers, and realize North American energy self-reliance.” Their goal is to create a seamless North American market.<br />
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At the third annual <a href="http://www.sdchamber.org/assets/files/Events/MBCEvents/NACIC%20Agenda%2010-24_FINAL.pdf">North American Competitiveness and Innovation Conference</a> in October 2013, government officials, trade experts and leaders representing the private and academic sectors from all three countries gathered to discuss strategies aimed at boosting NAFTA ties. Among the attendees were U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Canadian Minister of International Trade Edward Fast, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo. In a <a href="http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/10/28/joint-us-canada-mexico-statement-strengthening-trade-and-economic-rel">joint statement</a>, they agreed to strengthen their trade and economic relationship. The ministers, “committed to crafting a roadmap that both promotes prosperity across the NAFTA region for the next 20 years and maintains our position as the most competitive region in the world.” They also pledged to enhance, “regulatory cooperation, and coordinated efforts to facilitate increased trade through many initiatives, including the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.” With NAFTA as the foundation, the U.S., Canada and Mexico are working towards taking their trilateral partnership to the next level.<br />
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In the report <a href="http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1105784870371-97/NA_Competitiveness_SD_Dawson_Sands_Wood.pdf">North American Competitiveness: The San Diego Agenda</a>, Laura Dawson, Christopher Sands, and Duncan Wood examine the evolution of the NAFTA and provide a blueprint for deepening trilateral integration. This includes a host of recommendations dealing with harmonized regional trade policy, regulatory alignment, border and infrastructure, as well as human capital and energy. As far as a regulatory strategy goes, the paper called for the <a href="http://www.trade.gov/rcc/">U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> and the <a href="http://trade.gov/hlrcc/">U.S.-Mexico High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> to be coordinated within a trilateral framework. In the area of border security and efficiency, it also recommended that Mexico be included in the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/beyond-border-shared-vision-perimeter-security-and-economic-competitiveness">U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border initiative</a>. The report stated that, “North America’s future demands deeper integration of our economies and streamlined cross-border processes. Essential elements in ensuring long-term competitiveness include infrastructure spending, energy cooperation, investing in human capital formation, increasing labor mobility and labor market flexibility, regulatory cooperation and more efficient border management.”<br />
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When it comes to further advancing North American integration, the extensive policy paper reinforced the message that, “Trilateralism is about the long game. Bilateralism may move faster but cannot move as far.” It also stressed now that, “NAFTA has been institutionalized, it is sustained by working-level incrementalism, and its benefits are eroding. It is time for a new leap of faith.” With respects to a shared <a href="http://dawsonstrat.com/2013/12/20/north-american-vision/">North American Vision</a>, Laura Dawson described how, “A window of opportunity for important policy change is rare and actions involving multiple governments, interests and stakeholders are difficult. I am convinced that it is time for action and that it will be a long while before there is a similar convergence of opportunity and interest.” The report that Dawson helped put together concluded that, “the biggest impediment to progress is a lack of political leadership.” That is why many who are pushing this agenda are hoping that the upcoming North American Leaders Summit will help revive the NAFTA spirit and be used as launching pad for greater trilateral collaboration.<br />
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After 20 years of NAFTA, there is a growing sense from proponents of the deal that the time is right to take new steps towards North American economic integration. Beyond all those who view NAFTA as a success, there is a dark side and a legacy of broken promises. When NAFTA was introduced, it represented the architecture for a new international system. It became the template for future trade agreements which have been used to promote even greater corporate control. The TPP negotiations which are currently underway would expand the failed NAFTA model to even more countries. Furthermore, with the U.S., Canada and Mexico all a part of the massive trade talks, it also provides an opportunity to upgrade NAFTA without having to reopen it.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/12/beyond-nafta-shaping-future-of-north_10.html">Beyond NAFTA: Shaping the Future of North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/03/north-american-leaders-summit-and.html">The North American Leaders Summit and Reviving Trilateral Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/08/the-next-steps-in-consolidation-and.html">U.S. Economic Hegemony: Consolidation and Deepening of the Pacific Alliance Trade Bloc</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-54497210108464773612013-10-15T18:44:00.000-07:002015-01-02T08:24:17.874-08:00Increasing Data Collection and Surveillance in the North American HomelandBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybwJRBl5yGJES87sJrlyfI99ecU0PS4k5-fYblc_IB0abP6dRM3dj29hdsT6zWBsPlRiE_MbskdIUfiXPFjKS0CVEExtY_exKBDtpQ4fw3RjChnZrUnDeZIfMcEqHRQZUX3QLAN37kuc/s1600/NEWUSBorderSecuritySummitEventSiteImage1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjybwJRBl5yGJES87sJrlyfI99ecU0PS4k5-fYblc_IB0abP6dRM3dj29hdsT6zWBsPlRiE_MbskdIUfiXPFjKS0CVEExtY_exKBDtpQ4fw3RjChnZrUnDeZIfMcEqHRQZUX3QLAN37kuc/s400/NEWUSBorderSecuritySummitEventSiteImage1.png" /></a></div><br />
Some of the corporate interests that are steering the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border integration agenda are not quite satisfied with its progress so far and they would like the implementation process to be accelerated. The bilateral initiative which was launched almost two years ago promotes a shared vision for perimeter security. It seeks to improve information sharing between security agencies. Under the agreement, both countries are moving towards a coordinated entry/exit system and are developing a harmonized cargo security strategy. In addition, the U.S. and Canada are strengthening integrated cross-border intelligence sharing and law enforcement operations. Canada’s own electronic eavesdropping agency is also working hand and hand with the NSA. They are both increasing data collection and surveillance in the North American Homeland. <br />
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Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt gave a <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=815109">speech</a> at the Association of Canadian Port Authorities annual conference in August. She stated that, “Ensuring the security of our transportation systems is key to strengthening the Canada-U.S. trade relationship. To build prosperity through trade, businesses and governments on both sides of our shared border must have confidence that our transportation systems will work together to meet our mutual security needs. That is why Canada and the United States are working closely together to implement the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Beyond the Border Action Plan</a>.” While she didn’t reference the <a href="http://www.regionalresilience.org/maritime-resilience.html">Maritime Commerce Resilience Project</a> by name, Raitt acknowledged that the U.S. and Canada are, “developing a joint cross-border approach to help maritime commerce recover faster after a major disruption.” This would include a significant natural disaster or terrorist attack that impacts North America. She also mentioned a pilot program underway at the Port of Prince Rupert which is part of efforts to <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2012/2012-10-21-eng.html">harmonize the cargo screening process</a> between the U.S. and Canada. Both countries continue to advance this agenda through the <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/icss-sisf/icss-sisf-menu-eng.html">Integrated Cargo Security Strategy</a>, a key component of the Beyond the Border deal. <a name='more'></a><br />
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The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) is an influential organization that lobbies the government on behalf of Canada’s largest corporations. Throughout the years, they have tirelessly pushed for deeper continental integration. In a <a href="http://www.ceocouncil.ca/publication/letter-to-the-right-honourable-stephen-j-harper-regarding-the-upcoming-speech-from-the-throne">letter sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper</a>, John Manley, President and CEO of the CCCE lays out what some of the Conservative Party's priorities should be in the next session of parliament. As far as the North American partnership goes, the CCCE called on Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to further strengthen and renew their trilateral relationship. This includes forging a North American energy advantage through projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline which it noted was, “An essential step is the development of a comprehensive strategy to expand and enhance cross-border energy infrastructure.” The CCCE’s letter to Prime Minister Harper also stressed that, “The Canada-U.S. Beyond the Border and Regulatory Cooperation initiatives that you helped launch two years ago hold much promise, although so far tangible benefits have been few and far between.” In other words, big business who have the most to gain from these agreements want to speed up the whole process of North American integration. <br />
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At the end of June, the Department of Homeland Security and the Canada Border Services Agency began <a href="http://canada.usembassy.gov/news-events/2013-news-and-events/july-2013/3-july-2013-u.s.-canada-begin-phase-ii-of-entry/exit-project/">Phase II of the Entry/Exit System</a>, a commitment of the Beyond the Border action plan. The project builds on <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2013/2013-05-13-eng.html">Phase I</a> which involved collecting and exchanging biographic information at four selected land border crossings. Phase II has been expanded to include the exchange of biographic entry data collected from third-country nationals and permanent residents of Canada and the U. S. at all common ports of entry. In 2014, they will also start sharing biometric information at the border. Both countries are moving closer to fully implementing a biometric entry and exit data system. They are laying the groundwork for the creation of a North American biometric ID card. The U.S. and Canada are further merging databases and are expanding surveillance and intelligence gathering activities. <br />
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On July 12, Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester chaired the hearing, <a href="http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/fpfw/hearings/protecting-our-northern-border-enhancing-collaboration-and-building-local-partnerships">Protecting our Northern Border: Enhancing Collaboration and Building Local Partnerships</a>. The meeting emphasized how, “Securing such an expansive border requires a multi-faceted approach. In addition to a smart and effective deployment of technology and manpower, we must also be doing everything we can to ensure federal, local, state and Canadian partners are working very closely and collaboratively.” It also described other, “opportunities for collaboration and cost-sharing, including stronger partnerships between agencies, local officials, tribes and the private sector.” Before the hearings took place, Senator Tester talked to the CBC about the prospect of <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/u-s-eyes-high-tech-security-boost-at-canadian-border-1.1313461">deploying a high-tech cable sensor</a> along the U.S.-Canada border. This would include the installation of the <a href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006SPIE.6201E..62B">Blue Rose in-ground perimeter defense security system</a>. The low-level surveillance radar is based on fibre optic technology which is used, “to detect sound and vibration transmitted by intruders such as people walking or running and moving vehicles near the sensor.” The increased militarization of the northern border is forcing Canada to further comply with U.S.-style security measures.<br />
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A controversial U.S.-Canada cross-border law enforcement initiative which is essentially a land based version of the <a href="http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ibet-eipf/shiprider-eng.htm">Shiprider program</a> has been delayed due to legal ramifications. Under the Beyond the Border perimeter security plan, the Next Generation pilot project which would create integrated teams in areas such as intelligence and criminal investigations was scheduled to be launched in the summer of 2012. According to an <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/07/30/us_wants_exemption_from_canadian_law_for_crossborder_officers_rcmp_memo_says.html">RCMP memo</a>, the U.S. is demanding that its agents taking part in the bilateral undertaking be exempt from Canadian law. This has raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and responsibility. It is yet another attempt by the U.S. to chip away at Canadian sovereignty. An article by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131024083055/http://www.ipolitics.ca/2013/07/28/385546/">Michael Harris warned</a> that, “Once you give the U.S a platform to carry weapons and perform investigative duties inside our country, how far will they push the next envelope?” The pilot project is part of the process of further acclimating U.S. policing activities in Canada. As part of a North American security perimeter, both countries continue to expand the nature and scope of joint law enforcement operations, along with intelligence collection and sharing. <br />
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An example on how North America is being increasingly viewed a single entity occurred several months back during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein displayed a map that was designed by the National Security Agency (NSA) which showed domestic and global terror activity that it has allegedly helped disrupt. When it came to North America, the diagram <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/02/us-homeland-canada-mexico-map-nsa_n_3697189.html">identified Canada and Mexico as part of the U.S. Homeland</a>. While the move garnered a lot of speculation, <a href="http://rt.com/usa/mexico-canada-us-homeland-961/">RT pointed out</a>, “Whatever the reason for the NSA’s creation of the Homeland, the spy agency has already been condemned for failing to respect the sovereignty of other nations through its extensive data-collection efforts.” The NSA is also working in close partnership with <a href="https://www.cse-cst.gc.ca/en/about-apropos/peers-homologues">Communications Security Establishment Canada</a> (CSEC). An article from <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/canada-cover-up-on-csecs-spying-and-police-state-apparatus/5352025">Global Research explained</a> that, “the two organizations have integrated personnel—i.e. swap personnel to improve seamless collaboration. They also share Internet surveillance programs.” It went on to say that the NSA, “shares information on Canadians’ communications with Canada’s national security apparatus in exchange for information that CSEC gathers on Americans.” <br />
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The never ending war on terrorism is being used to justify the huge police state security apparatus being assembled. This includes the militarization of the northern border and the creation of a North American security perimeter. In the name of national security, there has been a steady erosion of civil liberties and privacy rights in both the U.S. and Canada. Our freedoms are under assault. The amount of information being collected and shared on all aspects of our daily lives has expanded and is being stored in massive databases. Sweeping new surveillance powers targeting terrorists and other criminals are being increasingly turned against those who are critical of government policy. There is a concerted effort to demonize political opponents, activists, protesters and other peaceful groups. We are witnessing the criminalization of dissent where those who oppose the government’s agenda are being labelled as terrorists and a threat to security. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/06/canada-being-assimilated-into-us.html">Canada Being Assimilated Into a U.S. Dominated North American Security Perimeter</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/02/us-canada-harmonizing-border-security.html">U.S.-Canada Harmonizing Border Security and Immigration Measures</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/11/us-canada-integrated-cybersecurity_7564.html">U.S.-Canada Integrated Cybersecurity Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/12/pretext-for-north-american-homeland_11.html">The Pretext for a North American Homeland Security Perimeter</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-46412494908856627302013-08-22T17:20:00.001-07:002013-08-25T17:38:30.641-07:00U.S. Economic Hegemony: Consolidation and Deepening of the Pacific Alliance Trade Bloc By Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-Ee0PkICcJ4n1dfh6M2QVbdIRMH10g_Thu6eDaPI4rD7beWJF5htAogDLuGswLLcnJ_Si6PKnqLj-2PI1sB9aSDKEPuEZjgnAvMtIUrpVZIoSEiQjwrINkUpcjgvwKVkQyJToBpPbezr/s1600/pacificPres1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-Ee0PkICcJ4n1dfh6M2QVbdIRMH10g_Thu6eDaPI4rD7beWJF5htAogDLuGswLLcnJ_Si6PKnqLj-2PI1sB9aSDKEPuEZjgnAvMtIUrpVZIoSEiQjwrINkUpcjgvwKVkQyJToBpPbezr/s400/pacificPres1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In a short period of time, the Pacific Alliance has emerged as one of the leading economic integration projects in Latin America. It aims to succeed where others have failed by creating a gateway to Asian markets and building a Pacific-rim trade deal. The U.S. and Canada are both pursuing deeper ties with the group and have been granted observer status. This is part of efforts to revive and expand their presence in Latin America. In some areas of integration, the Pacific Alliance has surpassed NAFTA. By merging the two together, it could be used to fill the void left by the collapse of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). <br />
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The <a href="http://alianzapacifico.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ABC-ALIANZA-DEL-PACIFICO-PRENSA-INGLES.pdf">Pacific Alliance</a> was officially launched by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru in June 2012. Its objectives include to construct, “an area of profound market-driven economic integration that will contribute to the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons.” The group also seeks to, “become a platform for economic and commercial integration as well as political coordination with global outreach, particularly towards the Asia Pacific.” A key requirement in joining the Pacific Alliance is to have free trade agreements with all existing member states. Costa Rica recently received approval to become a permanent member. Other countries have also shown interest with a growing number requesting observers status. The goal of the Pacific Alliance is to go beyond traditional free trade deals and pursue even more liberalized economic policies. <a name='more'></a><br />
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The May 23, 2013 <a href="http://alianzapacifico.net/documents/cali_eng.pdf">Pacific Alliance Summit</a> in Cali, Colombia marked the next steps in the consolidation and deepening of the Latin American trade bloc. The presidents of the four founding member countries agreed to remove tariffs on 90 percent of the goods traded between them and to gradually eliminate duties on the remaining 10 percent. They also adopted measures to begin visa-free travel between member states and moved closer towards full labor mobility. In addition, the leaders announced the creation of a cooperation fund and ratified agreements to open up joint embassies and trade offices in Asia and Africa. They also pledged to continue to deepen regional financial integration. The stock markets of Chile, Peru and Colombia have already been merged together and Mexico is expected to join them within the next year. While other Latin American countries are seeking to curb U.S. influence, Pacific Alliance members have shown a willingness to maintain and increase ties with Washington. <br />
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Just days after the Pacific Alliance Summit, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/27/remarks-press-vice-president-biden-and-colombian-president-santos-bogota">Vice President Joe Biden met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos</a> where he praised the progress the economic bloc has made and also expressed interest in the U.S. joining as an observer country. On July 19, the Department of State <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/07/212205.htm">announced U.S. participation as an observer</a> in the group. While full membership may be far off, the U.S. is expanding cooperation with Alliance members. Over the years, there has been a steady erosion of U.S.-Latin American relations. Some analysts have pointed out that that both the <a href="http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/08/05/Chomsky-Grip-on-North-America/">U.S. and Canada’s grip on Latin America is loosening</a>. This ties in with an article from <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/regime-change-u-s-seeks-to-get-rid-of-left-governments-in-latin-america/5344989">Global Research</a> which noted that the Obama administration is stepping up its strategy of regime change against the left-of-center governments in the region. The U.S. could use the Pacific Alliance as a means to recover political and economic influence in Latin America. <br />
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When Prime Minister Stephen Harper <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=5502">attended the Pacific Alliance Summit</a> in May, it was expected that he would request full membership. Canada already <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2012/11/15a.aspx?lang=eng">achieved observer status</a> back in November 2012. While Harper acknowledged their accomplishments, he said that it was too soon to decide whether Canada should join the trade bloc. During his trip, Harper also took the opportunity to meet with mining company executives. The Conservative government has been criticized for not putting enough emphasis on corporate accountability with regards Canadian mining operations in the region. <a href="http://canadians.org/media/water/2013/23-May-13.html">Maude Barlow explained</a> that, “The Pacific Alliance, like Canada’s existing trade and investment deals in Latin America, puts the profits of those companies above anything else. The deals, like the Alliance, have nothing to say about the environmental and human rights impact of mining in the region.” The Pacific Alliance appears to be another attempt to accelerate the privatization of natural resources. It goes against the efforts of some Latin American countries that have joined together to <a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/05/last-week-13-latin-american-governments-gathered-in-guayaquil-ecuador-to-hatch-a-common-response-to-an-increasingly-common-m.html">fight the growing problem of investor-state privileges</a> found in NAFTA-style trade agreements. These rules allow foreign corporations to sue for any potential profit losses related to government policies. <br />
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A recent article by Eric Farnsworth advocated <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/articles/nafta-and-pacific-alliance">linking NAFTA with the Pacific Alliance</a>. He recommended that the leaders from both trade groups, “should consider meeting to forge a pragmatic economic agenda for cooperation. This offers an important opportunity to kick-start a common agenda with willing partners that has languished since the FTAA.” Farnsworth also described how, “building out a NAFTA-Pacific Alliance economic relationship would improve the collective regional approach toward the Asia-Pacific region, which currently includes precisely the same Western Hemisphere nations within APEC and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations except Colombia. It would also offer a means to improve market efficiencies and update NAFTA without the need to re-open or re-negotiate its provisions.” There is an overlap between the Pacific Alliance and the much larger <a href="http://www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/trade-policies/tpp-potential-trade-policy-problems/">TPP trade talks</a>. Both initiatives seek to bridge the Americas with Asia and create Pacific-based trade blocs. With the possibility of TPP negotiations dragging on and the difficulty the deal might have getting ratified by the U.S. Senate, the Pacific Alliance could open new doors to trade with Asian countries sooner. <br />
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In Latin America, there is a growing divide over the future of continental political and economic integration. Some countries have banded together to resist U.S. imperialism and any attempts to destabilize the region. There is also a move to end the destructive cycle of investment treaties and replace it with an alternative economic structure that better respects the sovereignty of nation states. The Pacific Alliance stands as a counterbalance to some of the other regional integration efforts that are trying to protect against the dangers of globalization. It is designed to signal a commitment to free trade and open markets to its neighbours and to the rest of the world. In many ways, the Pacific Alliance represents a resurgence of the failed U.S. initiated FTAA which was part of an agenda to consolidate corporate control.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/11/canada-and-mexico-to-join-us-in-nafta.html">Canada and Mexico to Join U.S. in NAFTA of the Pacific</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2009/11/building-blocks-towards-asia-pacific.html">Building Blocks Towards an Asia-Pacific Union</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/12/beyond-nafta-shaping-future-of-north_10.html">Beyond NAFTA: Shaping the Future of North American Integration</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-46649632725442508652013-07-22T19:31:00.000-07:002013-10-18T15:32:58.686-07:00U.S. Arctic Ambitions and the Militarization of the High NorthBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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Canada recently took over the leadership of the Arctic Council and will be succeeded by the U.S. in 2015. With back-to-back chairmanships, it gives both countries an opportunity to increase cooperation on initiatives that could enhance the development of a shared North American vision for the Arctic. The U.S. has significant geopolitical and economic interests in the high north and have released a new national strategy which seeks to advance their Arctic ambitions. While the region has thus far been peaceful, stable and free of conflict, there is a danger of the militarization of the Arctic. It has the potential to become a front whereby the U.S. and other NATO members are pitted against Russia or even China. In an effort to prevent any misunderstandings, there are calls for the Arctic Council to move beyond environmental issues and become a forum to address defense and security matters. <br />
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In May, <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/arctic-arctique/chairmanship-presidence.aspx?lang=eng">Canada assumed the chairmanship of the Arctic Council</a> where they will push for responsible resource development, safe shipping and sustainable circumpolar communities. The Arctic Council is the leading multilateral forum in the region and also includes the U.S., Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Russia. During the recent meetings, members signed an <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/05/209406.htm">Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic</a> which seeks to improve coordination and planning to better cope with any such accidents. In addition, China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, along with Italy were granted permanent observer status in the Arctic Council. With the move, China has gained more influence in the region. The potential for new trade routes that could open up would significantly reduce the time needed to transport goods between Europe and Asia. The Arctic is an important part of China’s global vision, as a place for economic activity and a possible future mission for its navy. In order to better reflect the realities of politics in the high north, there are calls to expand the Arctic Council’s mandate to also include security and military issues. <a name='more'></a><br />
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Writing for the <a href="http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/05/06/arctic-piece-1-for-monday/">National Post</a>, Rob Huebert of the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute explained that, “One issue that has not received much attention is the need to discuss the growing militarization of the Arctic. While the Arctic Council is formally forbidden from discussing military security in the Arctic, the time has arrived to rethink this policy.” He went on to say, “The militaries of most Arctic states are taking on new and expanded roles in the region that go beyond their traditional responsibilities, which may create friction in the region.” Huebert also stressed that, “These new developments need to be discussed to ensure that all Arctic Council member states understand why they are occurring, and increase the confidence of members that these new developments are not about a conflict in the Arctic, but about the defence of core strategic interests.” He further added, “It is easy to see how both the Americans and Russians will become increasingly concerned about the security steps that the other is taking. But now is the time for all to openly discuss these developments so that old suspicions and distrusts do not resurface.” <br />
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As part of efforts to strengthen Arctic security cooperation, in June, the <a href="http://nouvelles.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=749589">Northern Chiefs of Defence Meeting</a> was held in Greenland. It brought together representatives from the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. <a href="http://www.norad.mil/Newsroom/tabid/3170/Article/2159/norad-and-usnorthcom-commander-to-attend-northern-chiefs-of-defence-meeting.aspx#.UbIVh4GrCnU.gmail">Gen. Charles Jacoby</a>, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) also attended the event. The second annual gathering was used as an, “opportunity for direct multilateral and bilateral discussions focused on Northern issues. Topics discussed included the sharing of knowledge and expertise about regional operational challenges; responsible stewardship of the North; and the role Northern militaries can play in support of their respective civil authorities.” The Northern Chiefs of Defence meeting has become an essential forum to address common Arctic safety and security concerns.<br />
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Ahead of Secretary of State John Kerry's trip to attend the <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209403.htm">Arctic Council Ministerial Session</a> in May, the White House unveiled a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/nat_arctic_strategy.pdf">National Strategy for the Arctic Region</a>. It outlined strategic priorities including advancing U.S. security interests, pursuing responsible stewardship and strengthening international cooperation. The document acknowledged competing environmental and economic goals, but in the end sets an aggressive agenda for the exploitation of Arctic oil, gas and mineral reserves. In addition, the strategy recommended enhancing national defense, law enforcement, navigation systems, environmental response, as well as search-and-rescue capabilities in the Arctic. It also builds off of <a href="http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-66.htm">National Security Presidential Directive-66</a> issued by the Bush administration in 2009. In coordination with the new plan, the U.S. Coast Guard has released their <a href="http://www.uscg.mil/seniorleadership/DOCS/CG_Arctic_Strategy.pdf">Vision for Operating in the Arctic Region</a> which will work towards improving awareness, modernizing governance and broadening partnerships. According to <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2013/03/23/americas-airsea-battle-arctic-style/?all=true">James Holmes</a>, professor of strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, the Coast Guard and Air Force could become the military's odd couple in defending America's Arctic front. <br />
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Several months back, Congressman Don Young testified in front of Armed Services Committee in support of <a href="http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=333097">Alaska national defense priorities</a>. He proclaimed, “We must be able to project power into the Arctic environment and extensive Arctic training is needed to do that.” Some have pointed out that the true nature surrounding U.S. plans to shift additional missile interceptors to Alaska is not to protect against a North Korean threat, but is instead <a href="http://rt.com/op-edge/us-amd-korea-arctic-371/">aimed at control over Arctic resources</a>. Meanwhile, there have also been renewed discussions about <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-must-have-broader-discussion-about-missile-defence-toews-1.1247517">Canadian participation in the U.S. anti-ballistic missile shield</a>, a move that could damage relations with Russia and China. In order to enhance its presence and security in the Arctic, the U.S. is increasing cooperation with Canada. This includes expanding joint military exercises and intelligence gathering operations in the region. Professor <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/north-american-integration-and-the-militarization-of-the-arctic/6586">Michel Chossudovsky of Global Research</a> has described Washington’s militarization of the Arctic as part of the process of North American integration. <br />
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In December 2012, the U.S. and Canada signed the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130309233708/http://www.cjoc.forces.gc.ca/fs-ev/2012/12/Tri_Command_Arctic_Framework__final__En_29_Nov_2012.pdf">Tri-Command Framework for Arctic Cooperation</a> which is part of efforts to further merge USNORTHCOM, Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) and NORAD. A <a href="http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/tabid/3104/Article/2956/norad-usnorthcom-and-canadian-joint-operations-commmand-commander-sign-cooperat.aspx">press release</a> explained that the framework is designed to, “promote enhanced military cooperation in the Arctic and identify specific areas of potential Tri-Command cooperation in the preparation for and conduct of safety, security and defense operations.” USNORTHCOM, CJOC and NORAD have also pledged to work closer together with regards to planning, domain awareness, information-sharing, training and exercises, capability development, as well as in the field of science and technology. In the coming years, the Arctic will become an even more important part of North American perimeter security.<br />
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While the Arctic remains a region of strategic interest to the alliance, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently <a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130529/DEFREG/305290022/NATO-Rejects-Direct-Arctic-Presence">rejected a direct NATO presence</a>. For a number of years, Norway has been pushing for NATO to increase its focus in the Arctic and have called for more <a href="http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2013/02/wants-more-northern-nato-exercises-28-02">joint northern exercises</a>. Even though NATO has yet to truly define its role in the area, Arctic member countries are stepping up military and naval operations in the high north. In the future, NATO’s mandate could include economic infrastructure and maritime security. It could also serve as a forum for discussing Arctic military issues. Expanding NATO activity in the region might signal the militarization of the Arctic which could raise tensions with both Russia and China.<br />
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There are fears that the Arctic could become an arena for political and military competition. With potential new shipping routes and countries further staking their claims to the vast untapped natural resources, defending strategic and economic interests may lead to rivalries in the region. There is also the possibility that conflicts which originate in other parts of the world could spillover and affect the stability of the Arctic.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/12/the-tri-command-strategy-and-merging-us_30.html">The Tri-Command Strategy and Merging U.S.-Canada Arctic Foreign Policy</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/06/future-canada-us-joint-north-american.html">Future U.S.-Canada Joint Arctic Security and Control</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/11/nato-arctic-security-and-canadian.html">NATO Arctic Security and Canadian Sovereignty in the Far North</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/08/norad-russian-joint-air-drill-bomber.html">NORAD-Russian Joint Air Drill, Bomber Incursions and Canada’s F-35 Jet Purchase</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-18184146780196176292013-06-17T18:52:00.000-07:002014-10-23T18:17:44.840-07:00Canada Being Assimilated Into a U.S. Dominated North American Security PerimeterBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYymX4SyNwDOddmzaLtUUdHEcvRuqaWVIvr6kw1T5KSBy9tnIsUMoHTGzHC2aUrCVa_GU5RO2A4-QhBjRJ92EV3HZ6RDzCY-mEyHrcP1dsS2LM2HaLttqpv88ED-0dE_cjd4A4g07nsUQ/s1600/FullFeatureonBorderSecuritySummitHomepage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYymX4SyNwDOddmzaLtUUdHEcvRuqaWVIvr6kw1T5KSBy9tnIsUMoHTGzHC2aUrCVa_GU5RO2A4-QhBjRJ92EV3HZ6RDzCY-mEyHrcP1dsS2LM2HaLttqpv88ED-0dE_cjd4A4g07nsUQ/s400/FullFeatureonBorderSecuritySummitHomepage.png" /></a></div><br />
Canada’s prime minister recently addressed the CFR, a globalist think tank who have been a driving force behind the push towards deeper North American integration. The U.S. and Canada are now further advancing this agenda through the Beyond the Border agreement. Both countries are increasing bilateral border transportation and infrastructure coordination. This includes a common approach to border management, security and control. They are also integrating an information sharing system that would be used to track everyone crossing the U.S.-Canada border and entering or leaving the continent. Without much fanfare and seemingly little resistance, Canada is being assimilated into a U.S. dominated North American security perimeter.<br />
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In May, the Conservative government <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/nws/nws-rlss/2013/20130506-eng.aspx">highlighted</a> the benefits of the U.S.-Canada <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Beyond the Border</a> action plan which was announced back in 2011. The deal, “focuses on addressing security threats at the earliest point possible and facilitating the lawful movement of people, goods, and services into Canada and the United States, and creates a long-term partnership to improve the management of our shared border.” The goal is to further increase, “security, economic competitiveness and prosperity through numerous measures, including reducing border wait times and improving infrastructure at key crossings to speed up legitimate trade and travel.” The <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/10/canadian-and-us-officials-discuss-beyond-border-initiative">Beyond the Border Executive Steering Committee</a> recently met to discuss the objectives that have already been achieved and the work that still needs to be done. Another important facet of the economic and security perimeter agreement is the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/us-canada_rcc_joint_action_plan3.pdf">Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> action plan. A <a href="http://trade.gov/rcc/rcc-stakeholder-dialogue-discussion-06202013.asp">stakeholder dialogue session</a> is planned for June 20, which will review its implementation progress and will seek further input regarding the next stage of U.S.-Canada regulatory integration. <a name='more'></a><br />
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Last month, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a joint report on the findings of <a href="http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/canada_usreport_3.pdf">Phase I of the Entry/Exit Information System</a>. The program included collecting and exchanging biographic information at four selected land border ports of entry. In a <a href="http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2013/2013-05-13-eng.html">news release</a>, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Thomas Winkowski stated that, “The results of Phase I demonstrate the capacity of the United States and Canada to increase information sharing capabilities.” He added, “This kind of cooperation epitomizes the Beyond the Border Action Plan.” The next phase of the entry/exit initiative is set to begin at the end of this month. It will involve exchanging the biographic data collected from third-country nationals and permanent residents of Canada and the U. S. at all common ports of entry. Both countries are further merging databases and are expanding surveillance and intelligence gathering operations. In 2014, they will also start sharing biometric information at the border. This will further advance the creation of a North America security perimeter where all travellers will be tracked and traced in real time. <br />
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As part of the commitment made under the Beyond the Border deal, both countries have announced the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/news/2013/05/30/united-states-and-canada-announce-first-ever-binational-border-infrastructure">Border Infrastructure Investment Plan</a> which was, “developed to establish a mutual understanding of recent, ongoing and potential border infrastructure investments. It outlines the approach that Canada and the United States will take to coordinate plans for physical infrastructure upgrades.” In June 2012, Canada reached an <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=4864">agreement</a> with the State of Michigan to build a second bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. This was followed by a presidential permit issued in April of this year that officially paved the way for construction of the project. A U.S. State Department <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/04/207424.htm">press release</a> explained that, “Consistent with the bilateral Beyond the Border Initiative, this permit contributes to ensuring that our border infrastructure supports increased competitiveness, job creation, and broad-based prosperity in the United States and Canada.” It went on to say that the new bridge, “will help to meet future capacity requirements in a critical travel corridor, promote cross-border trade and commerce, and advance our vital bilateral relationship with Canada.”<br />
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In March, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews signed a memorandum of understanding which established a <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/nws/nws-rlss/2013/20130314-eng.aspx">truck cargo pre-inspection pilot project</a>. The joint undertaking is another component of the Beyond the Border agreement and would shift inspections and clearances away from the actual border crossing. The first phase, “will test the concept of conducting U.S. CBP primary cargo inspection in Canada, and will be implemented at the Pacific Highway crossing between Surrey, British Columbia and Blaine, Washington.” The second phase, “will further test how pre-inspection could enhance border efficiency and reduce wait times to facilitate legitimate trade and travel, and will be implemented at the Peace Bridge crossing between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York.” The perimeter security deal is laying the foundation for a future U.S.-Canada binational organization that would jointly manage and control the border. <br />
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The CBSA is also testing additional technology at the <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2013/2013-05-24-eng.html">Morses Line, Quebec</a> and <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2013/2013-05-24a-eng.html">Piney, Manitoba</a> ports of entry. Under the remote traveller pilot project, people entering either location after regular hours of service, “will be processed by a border services officer located at a remote processing centre through a two-way audio and one-way video kiosk. Cameras will be installed to provide the officer with the ability to see the traveller and the vehicle.” The program which could later be expanded to other areas , “is part of the <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/127-eng.html">Small and Remote Ports of Entry Initiative</a>, one of the deliverables under the Beyond the Border Action Plan.” <a href="http://www.naunewz.org/does-remote-location-border-security-make-you-feel-safer/">NAUNEWZ</a> pointed out that, “Although a lot of this technology is already installed and being utilized in limited ways at most of the main Canada-U.S. border crossing points, these smaller border crossings are ideal testing grounds for their ‘no borders’/NAU agenda.”<br />
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On May 16, Canadian <a href="http://www.cfr.org/canada/conversation-stephen-harper/p30723">Prime Minister Stephen Harper participated</a> in question and answer session before the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). The conversation centered around economic growth, foreign investment and the role of the G20 with regards to global governance. Other issues focused on Canada-U.S. relations. Harper lobbied for approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline which would carry oil from western Canada to the Texas gulf coast. He dismissed environmental issues associated with the project and argued that it would be a step towards North American energy independence. The Obama administration is expected to make a final decision on the pipeline sometime this year. Harper also acknowledged the Beyond the Border and the Regulatory Cooperation Council action plans. He blamed sovereignty concerns and the continued negativity surrounding NAFTA as the main obstacles to even deeper continental integration. Prime Minister Harper used his audition in front of the CFR as an opportunity to demonstrate to the U.S. political and corporate elite that he is committed to defending the interests of big business and further pushing plans for a North American Union (NAU).<br />
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The Beyond the Border action plan is the most significant step forward in U.S.-Canada cooperation since NAFTA. It provides the framework for future North American integration. When fully implemented, the agreement can be expanded and updated. So far, the agenda has quietly slipped under the radar. By incrementally incorporating various pilot projects and excluding Mexico from the process, it has managed to avoid the controversy of past initiatives. The perimeter security deal is being sold as vital to improving the flow of trade and travel across the border. In order to appease U.S. fears, Canada has made numerous concessions with no guarantees that it will lessen border restrictions. As part of a North American security perimeter, Canada will always be at the mercy of any new U.S. security measures, regardless of the dangers they may pose to privacy and civil liberties. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/02/us-canada-harmonizing-border-security.html">U.S.-Canada Harmonizing Border Security and Immigration Measures</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/10/new-border-regime-is-taking-us-canada_9.html">Taking the U.S.-Canada Partnership to the Next Level</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/12/the-tri-command-strategy-and-merging-us_30.html">Merging U.S.-Canada Arctic Foreign Policy</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/04/the-return-of-acta-us-dictating-canadas.html">The Return of ACTA: U.S. Dictating Canada’s Intellectual Property Laws</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-35618159496167848152013-04-22T19:12:00.000-07:002013-04-23T19:26:14.098-07:00The Return of ACTA: U.S. Dictating Canada’s Intellectual Property LawsBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP6NE_OGZ2MqwBKO8tawhP6AbLFVRgvXCONr-ao1KlqPve7G25JLiAnLic7WpCHR-_WcPK8Xe-en5ElGSQnX8bjZaiH_1sWEwwn7_xdwrxCiJoXUvGhaC-JGtgduEU1_KN360pOodATBk/s1600/canadianflagsubmerged.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP6NE_OGZ2MqwBKO8tawhP6AbLFVRgvXCONr-ao1KlqPve7G25JLiAnLic7WpCHR-_WcPK8Xe-en5ElGSQnX8bjZaiH_1sWEwwn7_xdwrxCiJoXUvGhaC-JGtgduEU1_KN360pOodATBk/s320/canadianflagsubmerged.png" width="373" /></a></div><br />
In March, the Canadian government introduced a bill that would bring about sweeping changes to its copyright and trademark laws. This includes giving more power to customs and border protection agents without any judicial oversight. The move is intended to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the country, but has been criticized for being less about protecting Canadians and more about caving to American demands. With the U.S. dictating global intellectual property standards, the new legislation represents the return of ACTA and would pave the way for Canada to ratify the controversial international treaty. <br />
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Over the years, the U.S. has been critical of Canada's efforts in addressing trade in counterfeit goods and has been pressing for intellectual property reform. In the 2009 United States Trade Representative (USTR) <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/reports-and-publications/2009/2009-special-301-report">Special 301 Report</a>, Canada was placed on a priority watch list of countries that do not provide adequate intellectual property enforcement. As part of its <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/reports-and-publications/2013/2013-tpa-2012-ar">2013 Trade Policy Agenda</a>, the USTR is now pushing Canada to comply with the <a href="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2012/01/20120125acta.pdf">Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement</a> (ACTA). The multinational treaty is designed to standardize intellectual property laws around the world. Although it has been signed by a number of countries, <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2011/280.aspx?view=d">including Canada</a>, so far only <a href="http://www.inta.org/Press/Pages/JapanRatifiesACTA.aspx">Japan has ratified ACTA</a>. It was the result of public pressure associated with risks to internet privacy and online freedom of speech which lead to <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120703IPR48247/html/European-Parliament-rejects-ACTA">ACTA being rejected</a> by the European Parliament in July of 2012. At the time, many assumed that ACTA was dead, but it still remains a top priority for the U.S. and they are attempting to revive the discredited agreement by trying to get the six necessary ratifications for it to come into force. In an effort to satisfy U.S concerns, Canada recently announced legislation which is aimed at bringing them in line with ACTA. <a name='more'></a><br />
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Last month, the Conservative government introduced <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=6013262&File=42">Bill C-56</a>, also known as the <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=723359">Combating Counterfeit Products Act</a>. Academic researcher and law professor <a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6796/125/">Michael Geist</a> explained how the proposed legislation would, “ensure that Canada is positioned to ratify ACTA by addressing border measures provisions. The core elements of the bill include the increased criminalization of copyright and trademark law as well as the introduction of new powers for Canadian border guards to detain shipments and work actively with rights holders to seize and destroy goods without court oversight or involvement.” He emphasized that, “Customs officials are not copyright and trademark experts, yet they may now be forced to assess infringement cases including determining whether any copyright exceptions apply.” <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130301/12143622173/ustr-to-canada-bow-down-accept-acta-canada-yes-we-shall-do-your-bidding.shtml">Mike Masnick</a> of techdirt acknowledged that, “For many years, Canada has strongly resisted U.S.-style copyright laws, despite tremendous pressure to do so. Watching them cave on ACTA is certainly a disappointment.” He went on to say, “It shows a Canadian government who doesn't seem to care about what the public wants, but rather feels the need to kowtow to U.S. entertainment and pharmaceutical lobbying interests.”<br />
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The <a href="http://www.canadians.org/media/trade/2013/05-Mar-13.html">Council of Canadians</a> have questioned whether the anti-counterfeiting bill, “is one of the conditions the U.S. government put on Canada joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.” The group is urging that intellectual property rights be taken out of the TPP and the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) talks. There have already been attempts to use CETA negotiations to <a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/2012/07/07/controversial_copyright_rules_threaten_canada_european_trade_deal.html">sneak in parts of ACTA</a>. Stuart Trew, trade campaigner with the Council of Canadians wondered since, “The Harper government seems to have just collapsed in front of U.S. demands for border enforcement of Hollywood’s intellectual property rights despite the global controversy with ACTA. Can we expect Harper to bend this easily to European demands in CETA and U.S. demands in the TPP that will increase the price of drugs and undermine access to affordable medicines?” ACTA also favours Big Pharma with patent protections that would limit generic competition and would lead to higher drug costs. <br />
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On March 20, the USTR officially <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/03202013%20TTIP%20Notification%20Letter.PDF">notified</a> Congress of its intention to enter into negotiations with the EU on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement. In the letter, they also outlined specific goals in different areas such as intellectual property rights. As part of the transatlantic talks, the USTR, “Seek to obtain, consistent with U.S. priorities and objectives, appropriate commitments that reflect the shared U.S.-EU objective of high-level IPR protection and enforcement, and to sustain and enhance joint leadership on IPR issues.” A <a href="http://www.citizen.org/IP-out-of-TAFTA">Civil Society Declaration</a> signed by European and U.S. groups is insisting that the upcoming negotiations, “exclude any provisions related to patents, copyright, trademarks, data protection, geographical indications, or other forms of so-called intellectual property. Such provisions could impede our rights to health, culture, and free expression and otherwise affect our daily lives.” Some have warned that the TTIP could be used as a way to implement ACTA through the backdoor. <br />
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ACTA is part of the international agenda of patent, trademark and copyright lobbies. The agreement favours big businesses over individual innovators and creators. It was designed to protect the interests of multinational corporations at the expense of fundamental civil rights. ACTA is being used by the U.S. to pressure other countries into adopting a new global standard for intellectual property enforcement. The supranational treaty would impose draconian laws which threaten the sovereignty of member nations. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/03/final-push-for-canada-eu-ceta-and.html">Final Push for CETA and the Coming NAFTA-EU Free Trade Zone</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/growing-opposition-to-canada-eu-trade.html">Growing Opposition to the Canada-EU Trade Agreement</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/02/us-eu-trade-deal-is-foundation-for-new_25.html">U.S.-EU Trade Deal is the Foundation For a New Global Economic Order</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-31758398186859125762013-03-25T19:18:00.000-07:002014-11-08T10:45:23.355-08:00Final Push for a Canada-EU CETA and the Coming NAFTA-EU Free Trade ZoneBy Dana Gabriel <br />
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Pressure is mounting on Canada to finish up a long-delayed trade deal with the EU. Despite outstanding issues that still must be settled, there is a final push to try and complete an agreement this summer. If both sides are able to secure a deal, it would lay the groundwork for the proposed U.S.-EU trade pact. There is the possibility that the U.S.-EU transatlantic trade talks could also include the other NAFTA partners and maybe even other countries. Mexico has already shown interest in joining and if Canada can’t put the final touches on their own agreement with the EU, they might also be part of the negotiations. This would facilitate plans for a coming NAFTA-EU free trade zone and the formation of a transatlantic economic union.<br />
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After almost four years, negotiations between Canada and the European Union (EU) on a <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/ceta-aecg/index.aspx?lang=eng">Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement</a> (CETA) are bogged down in the final stages. Both sides have missed numerous deadlines to wrap things up. There is uncertainty when or if CETA will even get done. Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently tried to boost trade talks. He acknowledged that <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/harper-french-pm-tout-progress-toward-eu-trade-deal-1.1196051">considerable progress</a> towards a free trade deal has already been achieved, but admitted that there are still important issues that need to be resolved before any agreement can be finalized. Harper also explained that it would be to Canada’s advantage to sign a deal with Europe before the U.S. does. He made the comments while meeting with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault who was in Ottawa for an official visit. As part of a <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=5362">joint statement</a>, both leaders said they looked forward to a successful conclusion to CETA negotiations. Before his trip to Canada, Ayrault was sent a <a href="http://www.canadians.org/node/4558">letter</a> by civil society groups voicing opposition to CETA and the investor protection chapter that would grant corporations the power to challenge government policies that restrict their profits. <a name='more'></a><br />
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There are key issues which remain <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/03/06/pol-canada-eu-talks.html">stumbling blocks</a> and are preventing Canada and the EU from reaching an agreement. Academic researcher and law professor <a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6808/125/">Michael Geist</a> argued that, “with the EU the stronger of the two parties, it doesn't see any urgency to compromise. In fact, with a growing number of EU negotiations (including talks with the U.S.), compromise with Canada may undermine its position in more economically important deals.” He also laid out different possibilities for the future of CETA. This includes Canada continuing to hold out hope for a compromise which thus far has failed. They could cave to the EU demands, but this might hurt the Conservatives chances in the 2015 election. Geist pointed out another scenario which would involve Canada joining the U.S.-EU talks and CETA being replaced by the Transatlantic Free Trade Area (TAFTA). He noted, “The argument for TAFTA would be that Canada is consolidating its negotiations into major agreements covering the Pacific (TPP) and Atlantic (TAFTA) to ensure that it is part of two potential large trading blocks. The danger with this approach is that Canada becomes a bit player in both negotiations with even less leverage to promote Canadian interests.”<br />
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During a <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-12-825_en.htm">speech</a> given in November of last year, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht called on Mexico and the EU to modernize their existing trade agreement. Glyn Moody of <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130313/10181122311/mexico-will-ask-to-join-us-eu-transatlantic-trade-agreement.shtml">techdirt</a> recently reported that Mexico is now looking to join the U.S.-EU transatlantic deal. This would be one way for the EU and Mexico to upgrade trade relations. Moody emphasized that the U.S. strategy is to, “make TPP the defining international agreement for the entire Pacific region. TAFTA obviously aims to do the same for the Atlantic. As well as establishing the U.S. as the key link between the giant TPP and TAFTA blocs, this double-headed approach would also isolate the main emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India and above all China.” Just like the U.S. dominated <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a> (TPP), Mexico and Canada could also be a part of the <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/02/us-eu-trade-deal-is-foundation-for-new_25.html">Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership</a> talks. This would make it a true NAFTA-EU trade bloc-level negotiations. There might be an opportunity for other countries to join as <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-eyes-involving-in-eu-us-free-trade.aspx?pageID=238&nID=43640&NewsCatID=344">Turkey is also pushing to be included</a> in the trade deal.<br />
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In a recent article, <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/maude-barlow/2013/03/why-transatlantic-free-trade-mistake-canada">Maude Barlow</a> of the Council of Canadians described how CETA negotiations have laid the groundwork for a U.S.-EU free trade zone. She insisted that it would be a mistake for all three NAFTA countries to be a part of a transatlantic agreement. Barlow warned about some of the same dangers found in CETA that the U.S. could face in their own trade deal with the EU. She stressed how opening up local procurement to the EU should be of great concern to U.S. states and municipal governments. In Canada, a number of municipalities have passed motions demanding that they be excluded from the procurement rules in CETA which would restrict local hiring and purchasing initiatives. Barlow also cautioned that an investor protection chapter like the one in CETA would allow European multinationals to sue for any potential profit losses related to U.S. government policies and regulations. This would be worse than <a href="http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=1218">NAFTA’s Chapter 11</a> and as a result, the U.S. would lose more sovereign rights. The <a href="http://www.iisd.org/itn/2011/07/12/australias-rejection-of-investor-state-dispute-settlement-four-potential-contributing-factors/">Australian government</a> has already stopped the practice of including investor-state dispute resolution procedures in trade agreements and now it’s time for other countries follow suit.<br />
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In Canada, opposition to CETA continuous to grow. There are deep concerns over the expansion of NAFTA-like investor rights, the dismantling of supply management in agriculture and the negative impact that CETA would have on local public procurement. It could also serve to further empower Big Pharma by extending monopoly drug patents which would lead to higher costs. Just like any of the other so-called next-generation trade and investment deals, CETA is based on the failed NAFTA model with the same false promises. These secretive and binding international agreements are not really about trade, but are in fact designed to reshape regulatory and policy frameworks to further increase the rights of corporations and investors.<br />
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Whatever happens with CETA will greatly affect how the U.S. and EU approach their own trade deal. Moving forward, the merging transatlantic partnership will eventually culminate in the creation of a NAFTA-EU free trade zone. With the push for deeper international economic integration, the U.S. is positioning itself to become the lynchpin between the world’s largest trading blocs.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/10/deepening-us-eu-transatlantic-trade_28.html">Deepening the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade Partnership</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/growing-opposition-to-canada-eu-trade.html">Growing Opposition to the Canada-EU Trade Agreement</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/flashback-spreading-naftas-love-across.html">Spreading NAFTA's Love Across the Atlantic</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2013/02/us-eu-trade-deal-is-foundation-for-new_25.html">U.S.-EU Trade Deal is the Foundation For a New Global Economic Order</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-18546894534438962162013-02-25T19:10:00.002-08:002014-11-08T10:49:18.877-08:00U.S.-EU Trade Deal is the Foundation For a New Global Economic OrderBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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The U.S. and EU have agreed to launch negotiations on what would be the world's largest free trade deal. Such an agreement would be the basis for the creation of an economic NATO and would include trade in goods, services and investment, as well as cover intellectual property rights. There are concerns that the U.S. could use these talks to push the EU to loosen its restrictions on genetically modified crops and foods. In addition, the deal might serve as a backdoor means to implement ACTA which was rejected by the European Parliament last year. A U.S.-EU Transatlantic trade agreement is seen as a way of countering China’s growing power and is the foundation for a new global economic order.<br />
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In his recent <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/remarks-president-state-union-address">State of the Union</a> address, President Barack Obama officially announced that the U.S. would launch talks on a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union (EU). A <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/13/statement-united-states-president-barack-obama-european-council-presiden">joint statement</a> issued by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and U.S. President Obama explained that, “Through this negotiation, the United States and the European Union will have the opportunity not only to expand trade and investment across the Atlantic, but also to contribute to the development of global rules that can strengthen the multilateral trading system.” In a separate <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-121_en.htm">speech</a>, European Commission President Barroso also emphasized that, “A future deal between the world's two most important economic powers will be a game-changer. Together, we will form the largest free trade zone in the world. So this negotiation will set the standard – not only for our future bilateral trade and investment, including regulatory issues, but also for the development of global trade rules.” <a name='more'></a><br />
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The decision to pursue a free trade deal was based on the recommendations put forth by the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/28/fact-sheet-high-level-working-group-jobs-and-growth">High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth</a> which was created to deepen U.S.-EU economic integration. In their <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/reports-and-publications/2013/final-report-us-eu-hlwg">final report</a>, they called on leaders from both sides to, “initiate as soon as possible the formal domestic procedures necessary to launch negotiations on a comprehensive trade and investment agreement.” According to U.S. and EU officials, talks could start in June with the hopes of completing a deal by the end of 2014. The proposed trade pact would include removing import tariffs, dismantling hurdles to trade in goods, services, and investment, as well as harmonizing regulations and standards. It would also cover intellectual property protection and enforcement. This could be used as an opportunity for a backdoor implementation of the <a href="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2012/01/20120125acta.pdf">Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement</a> (ACTA). It was a result of public pressure associated with risks to internet freedom and privacy which lead to ACTA being <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120703IPR48247/html/European-Parliament-rejects-ACTA">rejected</a> by the European Parliament in July of 2012. There have already been attempts to use Canada-EU trade negotiations to <a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/2012/07/07/controversial_copyright_rules_threaten_canada_european_trade_deal.html">sneak in parts of ACTA</a>.<br />
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Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch Director, <a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/02/sotu-tpp-tafta-wtf.html">Lori Wallach</a> cautioned how U.S.-EU talks, “are aimed at eliminating a list of what multinational corporations call ‘trade irritants’ but the rest of us know as strong food safety, environmental and health safeguards.” She went on to say, “European firms are targeting aspects of the U.S. financial reregulation regime, our stronger drug and medical device safety and testing standards and more.” Wallach further added, “U.S. firms want Europe to gut their superior chemical regulation regime, their tougher food safety rules and labeling of genetically modified foods.” In a <a href="http://earthopensource.org/index.php/news/140-eu-us-free-trade-deal-will-dismantle-eu-public-health-protections-on-gm-foods">press release</a>, Earth Open Source warned that, “An EU-U.S. free trade deal would obliterate EU safeguards for health and the environment with regard to genetically modified (GM) crops and foods.” Research Director Claire Robinson pointed out, “If the new trade agreement goes through, it will be illegal under World Trade Organisation rules for the EU to have a stronger regulatory system for GMOs than the U.S. system.” This is disturbing considering that in many cases, GM foods in the U.S. do not require any special regulatory oversight or safety tests.<br />
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Overshadowed by the proposed U.S.-EU trade deal is ongoing Canada-EU negotiations on a <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/ceta-aecg/index.aspx?lang=eng">Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement</a> (CETA). Despite talks being in their final stages, both sides still have some important gaps to be bridged before a deal can be reached. <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/13/harpers_canadaeu_trade_deal_could_cost_canada_more_now_that_us_is_in_mix_walkom.html">Thomas Walkom</a> of the Toronto Star acknowledged that, “Europe’s real interest in negotiating a trade deal with Ottawa was to demonstrate to the Americans that a trans-Atlantic free trade pact was possible.” He noted, “EU negotiators will be even more reluctant to make concessions to Canada for fear of weakening their bargaining hand with the Americans.” Walkom argued that, “Canada is under more pressure to make a deal while Europe is under less.” He concluded that. “A Canada-EU deal seems inevitable. But now, with America in the mix, the terms for Canada may be even less favorable than expected.” The <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/no-trade-deal-unless-canada-offers-more-says-eu-commissioner/article8922931/">Globe and Mail</a> recently reported that the EU is demanding additional concessions from Canada before any agreement can be signed. In order to wrap things up, a desperate Canada may be willing to give up even more. This was a bad deal from the start and it would be in their best interest to just <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130420091206/http://canadians.org/action/2013/harper-ceta.html#.UmF7f-SNRjo">walk away from CETA</a>.<br />
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In the coming months, you can expect the anti-corporate globalization movement on both sides of the Atlantic to mobilize against the U.S.-EU trade agreement. It is big business and financial institutions who are pushing this deregulation agenda which threatens health, environmental and food safety standards. Just like NAFTA, the proposed U.S.-EU trade deal is also likely to include an investor-state dispute process which would give corporations the right to challenge government policies that restrict their profits. A trade agreement between the U.S. and EU is the building blocks for a new global trading system. If you combine NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and a U.S,-EU Transatlantic trade deal, you have the makings for a global free trade area.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/10/deepening-us-eu-transatlantic-trade_28.html">Deepening the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade Partnership</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/growing-opposition-to-canada-eu-trade.html">Growing Opposition to the Canada-EU Trade Agreement</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/03/advancing-transatlantic-agenda.html">Advancing the Transatlantic Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/01/from-nafta-to-ceta-canada-eu-deep.html">From NAFTA to CETA: Canada-EU Deep Economic Integration</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-33774724965539290402013-02-04T18:51:00.000-08:002014-11-11T20:21:47.989-08:00U.S.-Canada Harmonizing Border Security and Immigration MeasuresBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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The U.S. and Canada have made significant progress in advancing the Beyond the Border deal and continue to implement various perimeter security initiatives. Without much fanfare, they have signed an immigration agreement that would allow them to share biographic and at a later date, biometric information. As part of a North American security perimeter, both countries are further harmonizing border security and immigration measures. Canada is further taking on U.S. security priorities and this could include a bigger role in the war on terrorism.<br />
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It’s been over a year since Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama announced the <a href="http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/pdfs/us-canada-btb_action_plan.pdf">Beyond the Border</a> and the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/us-canada_rcc_joint_action_plan3.pdf">Regulatory Cooperation Council</a> action plans. On December 14, 2012, the U.S. and Canada issued the Beyond the Border <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/btb_implementation_report.pdf">implementation report</a> that highlights the objectives that were achieved over the past year and the work that has yet to be done. It explained that moving forward, “Key future initiatives include harmonizing our trusted trader programs, making significant infrastructure investments at our key land border crossings, fully implementing an entry/exit program at the land border, expanding preclearance operations to the land, rail, and marine domains.” The report also acknowledged challenges facing the Next-Generation pilot project which would permit teams of cross-designated officers to operate on both sides of the border. It was originally scheduled to begin last summer. While steady progress has been made, a lot more work is needed to meet the goals of the Beyond the Border action plan. Over the next several years, other aspects of the deal will be phased-in incrementally with specific deliverables due this year, in 2014 and also in 2015. <a name='more'></a> <br />
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Another important facet of the economic and security perimeter agreement is the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC). A <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/pco_bnet-30471-v38-rcc-progress_report_-_dec_2012_final.pdf">progress report</a> to the leaders outlines accomplishments made in aligning regulations in the areas of agriculture and food, transportation, the environment, health and personal care products, workplace chemicals, as well as nanotechnology. This includes cooperation on pilot projects, scientific and technical collaborations and harmonized testing procedures. RCC working groups have developed detailed <a href="http://www.trade.gov/rcc/">work plans</a> for the various initiatives with objectives that will be implemented over the next couple of years. In Canada, some fear that deepening regulatory integration with the U.S. could weaken and erode any independent regulatory capacity. This could lead to a race to the bottom with respect to regulatory standards. <br />
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In December of last year, the U.S. and Canada signed the <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?crtr.sj1D=&crtr.mnthndVl=12&mthd=advSrch&crtr.dpt1D=6664&nid=712379&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.tp1D=1&crtr.yrStrtVl=2002&crtr.kw=&crtr.dyStrtVl=1&crtr.aud1D=&crtr.mnthStrtVl=1&crtr.page=13&crtr.yrndVl=2013&crtr.dyndVl=31">Immigration Information Sharing Treaty</a> which is tied to the Beyond the Border deal. Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney stated that the, “agreement builds on our countries’ mutual efforts to protect our common borders and the surrounding perimeter, through improved screening of immigrants and visitors.” He went on to say, “Enhanced information sharing of foreign nationals will protect the safety and security of Canadians by helping us prevent terrorists, violent criminals, and others, who pose a risk, from entering Canada or the United States.” Under the treaty, Canada and the U.S. will share biographic information from third country nationals who apply for a visa, a travel permit or claim asylum. In 2014, it will also include the sharing of biometric information. There are privacy concerns on how far-reaching the data collected will be shared. This threatens the sovereignty of Canada with regards to retaining control over information at its own borders. <br />
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On December 28, 2012, President Obama signed into law, the <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3783/text">Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act</a> which is designed to curb Iran's presence and activity in the region. The bill calls on the Department of Homeland Security to work with Canada and Mexico, “to address resources, technology, and infrastructure to create a secure United States border and strengthen the ability of the United States and its allies to prevent operatives from Iran, the IRGC, its Qods Force, Hezbollah, or any other terrorist organization from entering the United States.” Julie Carmichael, spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews discussed Canada’s efforts to counter any perceived hostility from Iran in the Americas. She is quoted in the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-working-with-washington-to-counter-an-iranian-threat-in-the-americas/article6840442/">Globe and Mail</a> as saying, “We continually assess threats while co-operating with international partners, including the U.S., to address threats to our common security.” Carmichael added, “The Beyond the Border Action Plan as announced by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama provides a framework to identify threats before they reach North America.” Under the perimeter security deal, Canada is further aligning itself with U.S. foreign policy interests and could be expected to play a greater role in the global war on terror. <br />
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Through the Beyond the Border agreement, the U.S. and Canada are deepening economic and security integration which is laying the foundation for a North American security perimeter. Both countries are also engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations with Mexico and other member nations. This is part of efforts to create a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific and could be used to update and expand NAFTA. Another key priority for U.S.-Canada relations is North America’s energy future. President Obama is expected to make a final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline sometime this year. Meanwhile, there is growing environmental opposition to the proposed project which would carry oil from western Canada to the Texas gulf coast. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel:<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/12/the-tri-command-strategy-and-merging-us_30.html">Merging U.S.-Canada Arctic Foreign Policy</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/11/us-canada-integrated-cybersecurity_7564.html">U.S.-Canada Integrated Cybersecurity Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/12/beyond-nafta-shaping-future-of-north_10.html">Shaping the Future of North American Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/10/new-border-regime-is-taking-us-canada_9.html">Taking the U.S.-Canada Partnership to the Next Level</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-60870527720904649452012-12-30T19:06:00.000-08:002014-11-08T10:29:39.792-08:00The Tri-Command Strategy and Merging U.S.-Canada Arctic Foreign Policy By Dana Gabriel<br />
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The Arctic has become an important part of North American perimeter security. Recently, the U.S. and Canada signed two new agreements that will expand bilateral military training, security and defense operations in the region. Both countries are working together to prepare for any real or perceived threats and are moving towards merging their Arctic foreign policies.<br />
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On December 11, 2012, the U.S. and Canada signed the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130309233708/http://www.cjoc.forces.gc.ca/fs-ev/2012/12/Tri_Command_Arctic_Framework__final__En_29_Nov_2012.pdf">Tri-Command Framework for Arctic Cooperation</a> which will further integrate United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). According to a <a href="http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/tabid/3104/Article/2956/norad-usnorthcom-and-canadian-joint-operations-commmand-commander-sign-cooperat.aspx">press release</a>, the framework is designed to, “promote enhanced military cooperation in the Arctic and identify specific areas of potential Tri-Command cooperation in the preparation for and conduct of safety, security and defense operations.” USNORTHCOM, CJOC and NORAD will work more closely in the region with regards to planning, domain awareness, information-sharing, training and exercises, operations, capability development, as well as in the area of science and technology. This also ties in with the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130528185041/http://www.cjoc.forces.gc.ca/fs-ev/2012/12/Tri_Command_Training_Exercise_Statement_of_Intent.pdf">Tri-Command Training and Exercise Statement of Intent</a>. The newly signed military document is aimed at, “enhancing joint and combined readiness in support of safety, security and defense missions through combined training and exercises and reinforcing partnerships and collaboration among the Commands.” <a name='more'></a> <br />
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The latest U.S.-Canada military agreements are part of the Tri-Command strategy and demonstrate the importance being placed on the Arctic. The <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130218085010/http://www.northcom.mil/News/Signed%20Vision%20in%20English%2012%20Mar%2010.pdf">Tri-Command Vision</a> has previously called for USNORTHCOM, NORAD and Canada Command which has now been replaced by CJOC to, “Improve unity of effort with each other and with our respective mission partners; develop a culture of continuous collaboration and cooperation in planning, execution, training, information management, and innovation; enhance intelligence and information sharing and fusion.” In order to better achieve these objectives, “The Commands shall develop and share comprehensive, situational awareness and a common operating picture, and must strive to interact seamlessly with each other and with our respective civil authorities, non-governmental organizations and other mission partners.” The Tri-Command is part of efforts to merge both countries, security and military priorities under the umbrella of a single, U.S.-dominated North American Command. <br />
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As part of the April 2011 U.S. Department of Defense <a href="http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14398">Unified Command Plan</a>, responsibility for the Arctic region is now shared between USNORTHCOM and USEUCOM. With the move, USNORTHCOM was given the primary task of planning and advocating for future Arctic capabilities, as well as engaging with stakeholders across the U.S. military, other agencies and international bodies. This is significant considering USNORTHCOM’s partnership with CJOC, along with NORAD and was instrumental in the development of the Tri-Command Framework for Arctic Cooperation. In an example of what we can expect with regards to joint Arctic security, Canada’s 2010 military sovereignty exercise, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120910031153/http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=10905">Operation Nanook</a> included the U.S. and Denmark. The Arctic is also an emerging issue for the NATO alliance. Canada and the U.S., along with other NATO member countries have participated in the annual <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/top-of-the-world-nato-rehearses-for-war-in-the-arctic/30508">Cold Response</a> war games. Strengthening its military presence in the region and enhancing security collaboration with Canada and other northern partners has become an essential component of America’s Arctic strategy. <br />
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In mid-2013, Canada will begin chairing a two-year term of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/29/arctic-council-agenda_n_1553368.html">Arctic Council</a> with the U.S. assuming the leadership role from 2015–17. Many view this as an opportunity for both countries to advance a North American Arctic agenda. The intergovernmental forum which also includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Russia promotes cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic states. The Arctic Council has signed an <a href="http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/environment-and-people/oceans/search-and-rescue/157-sar-agreement">Agreement on Cooperation in Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue</a> which became the first legally binding deal ever negotiated between all the eight Arctic nations. As far as military and security concerns go, in April 2012, Canada hosted a meeting of the <a href="http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=general-natynczyk-and-fellow-northern-chiefs-of-defence-discuss-shared-arctic-interests/hgq87xv6">Northern Chiefs of Defence</a> to discuss shared Arctic interests. This included common safety and security issues in the region such as emergency response and support to civilian authorities. The conference provided a setting to hold multilateral and bilateral talks focused on the Arctic and there are calls to have similar meetings on a regular basis. <br />
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The U.S. and Canada share similar goals and concerns in the Arctic and are further building up their military presence in the region. With a strategic framework in place, both countries are working towards establishing a North American Arctic foreign policy. At times, Canadian and Russian rhetoric in regards to Arctic sovereignty has been reminiscent of the Cold War era. Rising tensions could further escalate the militarization of the far north. Increasing diplomatic efforts is the key to building the foundation for more multilateral cooperation in the area. While the process to resolve territorial disputes and the scramble to secure resources has thus far been peaceful, the Arctic still remains a potential flashpoint for conflict.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/02/us-canada-strengthening-security.html">Strengthening U.S.-Canada Security Interests in North America</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/06/future-canada-us-joint-north-american.html">Future U.S.-Canada Joint Arctic Security and Control</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/11/nato-arctic-security-and-canadian.html">NATO Arctic Security and Canadian Sovereignty</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/06/perimeter-security-and-integrated-north.html">Perimeter Security and an Integrated North American Command</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-86827251737916986062012-12-10T19:00:00.000-08:002014-11-09T22:49:49.794-08:00Beyond NAFTA: Shaping the Future of North American IntegrationBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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In a move that signalled the importance placed on the NAFTA partnership, Mexico’s new president visited the U.S. and Canada before his inauguration. This was seen as a step forward in further strengthening political, economic, energy and security ties between all three countries. Other recent high-level meetings and policy papers are also shaping the future of North American integration. <br />
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Before his recent trip to the U.S., Mexico’s new President Enrique Pena Nieto emphasized in a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/enrique-pena-nieto-us-mexico-should-develop-their-economic-bond/2012/11/23/248b8ec4-3589-11e2-9cfa-e41bac906cc9_story.html">Washington Post</a> editorial the opportunity both countries have to build on their economic partnership. He explained that, “in NAFTA we have a solid foundation to further integrate our economies through greater investments in finance, infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.” As part of his government’s strategy to reduce violence, he stated that it is, “important that our countries increase intelligence-sharing and crime-fighting techniques and promote cooperation among law enforcement agencies.” In a White House <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/28/remarks-president-obama-and-president-elect-pe-nieto-mexico-bilateral-me">press release</a>, Pena Nieto invited President Barack Obama to participate in the next North American Leaders Summit which will take place in Mexico sometime in 2013. With regards to U.S.-Mexico relations, Obama said that he was also looking forward to finding ways, “to strengthen our economic ties, our trade ties, our coordination along the border, improving our joint competitiveness, as well as common security issues.” <a name='more'></a> <br />
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According to the new policy brief, <a href="http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/a_new_agenda_with_mexico.pdf">A New Agenda with Mexico</a> put out by the Woodrow Wilson Center, “declines in illegal immigration and organized crime violence in Mexico, open up an opportunity for U.S. policymakers to deepen the economic relationship.” The report recommended working, “together with Mexico and Canada to strengthen regional competitiveness and to grow North American exports to the world.” It further elaborated on how, “Economic issues can drive the next phase in deepening U.S.-Mexico cooperation. Investments in trusted shipper programs, pre-inspection programs, and enhanced border infrastructure will be crucial.” The study called on Washington to offer more, “support for Mexico’s criminal justice institutions, and strengthen U.S. anti-money laundering efforts in order to combat organized crime and violence.” It also recommended engaging, “Mexico more actively on hemispheric and extra-hemispheric foreign policy issues, ranging from terrorism to international trade and finance, as Mexico’s role as a global power grows.”<br />
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In a recent article, <a href="http://www.cipamericas.org/archives/8435">Laura Carlsen</a>, director of the Americas Policy Program scrutinized some the new Mexican president’s policy initiatives. In the area of security, she pointed out that, “A real change in paradigm would require two measures that the Pena government has said it will not take: withdrawing the armed forces from counternarcotics efforts and renegotiating security cooperation with the U.S. government.” She noted, “Pena Nieto has reassured the U.S. that his administration will continue the drug war.” Carlsen acknowledged how, “The U.S. government has actively promoted and supported the drug war model of enforcement and interdiction through the <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/inl/merida/">Merida Initiative</a> and spearheaded the massive expansion of U.S. counternarcotics activities in the country.” She further added, “U.S. defense, intelligence and security companies depend on the Mexican drug war to obtain multi-million dollar government contracts. The Pentagon and other U.S. agencies have achieved unprecedented freedom to act and even direct actions on Mexican soil.” As far as economic policy goes, Carlsen was also critical of President Pena Nieto’s commitment to deepen rather than fix NAFTA.<br />
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Just days before being sworn in as Mexico's new president, Pena Nieto also visited Canada. In a <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=3&featureId=6&pageId=49&id=5182">press statement</a>, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was looking forward to working with him in improving trade ties, as well as strengthening North American competitiveness and security. In an editorial that appeared in the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/for-mexico-and-canada-theres-room-to-grow/article5698332/">Globe and Mail</a>, Pena Nieto announced that, “One of the areas with the largest potential for co-operation between Mexico and Canada is energy production and development. Mexico’s energy sector is about to change. I want to enhance its potential by opening it up to national and foreign private investment.” He went on to say, “We can cultivate a closer relationship in this area in order to attain North American energy security.” Canada-U.S. energy issues are also at the forefront. Following his re-election, President Obama is under pressure to <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/obama-under-pressure-to-revisit-keystone-xl-pipeline-decision-1.1061822">make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline</a>. The proposed project would carry oil from western Canada to the Texas gulf coast.<br />
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In the report, <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2012/11/canada%20mexico%20rozental/canada%20mexico%20relations%20rozental.pdf">Forging a New Strategic Partnership between Canada and Mexico</a>, Perrin Beatty and Andres Rozental recognized the opportunity both countries have to reshape bilateral relations. Among other things, the policy paper recommended removing the visa requirement for Mexican visitors to Canada. It supported increasing funding to the <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/crime/accbp-prclc.aspx?view=d">Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program</a> which is aimed at enhancing the ability, “of government agencies, international organizations and non-governmental entities to prevent and respond to threats posed by transnational criminal activity throughout the Americas.” In addition, the study called for institutionalizing the North American Leaders Summit and establishing a complementary North American Business Council. It also advocated pursuing further economic cooperation with the U.S. on a pragmatic basis and suggested that, “Ongoing border and regulatory initiatives should be results-oriented and pursued in the most effective way possible, bilateral or trilateral, as the case may be. This policy recommendation can be extended to any North American issue, including continental security perimeter initiatives and anti-narcotics efforts.”<br />
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Last month’s <a href="http://www.nafta20.com/">NAFTA20 North America Summit</a> examined NAFTA’s evolution, as well as its future prospects. Speaking at the conference, <a href="http://www.uschamber.com/press/speeches/2012/nafta20-north-america-summit-remarks-thomas-j-donohue-president-and-ceo-us-chamb">Thomas Donohue</a> President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged Canadian, Mexican and U.S. leaders to move forward with, “the integration of our markets to further rationalize our supply chains, increase efficiency, and better position North America in the global economy.” He went on to say, “We need to advance regulatory cooperation, streamline our border, and reform immigration practices to ensure the free flow of products, people, capital, and ideas.” Donohue concluded that <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2012/10/09a.aspx?view=d">Canada</a> and <a href="http://www.economia.gob.mx/news-and-events/press-room/headlines/8957-boletin234-12-en">Mexico</a> joining the U.S. and other countries as part of the <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2011/november/outlines-trans-pacific-partnership-agreement">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a> (TPP) trade agreement would help maximize the strength of the North American market. Meanwhile, there are growing concerns over the secrecy surrounding the TPP. This includes fears that it would grant corporations more power and further put the sovereignty of member nations at risk. It could also be used as a <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">backdoor renegotiation of NAFTA</a> without officially having to open it back up. With the <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/trans-pacific-partnership/round-15-newzealand">15th round of talks</a> coming to a close in New Zealand, a final TPP deal could be reached before the end of 2013.<br />
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In October, Ottawa hosted the <a href="http://northamericanforum.org/">North American Forum</a>. The annual get-together includes, “Canadian, Mexican and American thought leaders, whose purpose is to advance a shared vision of North America, and to contribute to improved relations among the three neighbors.” Much like other secretive gatherings, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130910114135/http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/10/15/north-american-leaders-gather-in-otatwa-away-from-reporters-prying-eyes/">reporters were barred</a> from entering the Forum’s events. This year’s discussions centered around energy and North American economic competitiveness. Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay also delivered a <a href="http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=north-american-forum/hgq87xh9">keynote address</a> which focused on continental security issues. He highlighted the bilateral defence relations that the U.S. and Canada enjoy through NORAD. MacKay remarked on how, “Canada and Mexico are also becoming important strategic partners and stronger defence ties with Mexico are a priority.” He praised the first meeting of <a href="http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15141">North American Defence Ministers</a> as a, “great opportunity for our three nations to identify ways to work together to address shared defence and security challenges.” The trilateral defence meeting which took place in March is part of the process of integrating Mexico into NORAD and establishing a North American security perimeter.<br />
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While NAFTA partners pursue a trilateral approach with respect to different initiatives, the U.S. also has a separate bilateral border and regulatory agenda with Canada and Mexico. This is part of ongoing efforts to create a common economic and security perimeter. As the incremental path towards a North American Union continues, citizens from the U.S., Canada and Mexico are not being consulted, much less being given a choice in the matter even though the plan threatens the future sovereignty of each country.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/11/north-american-integration-and-ties.html">North American Integration and the Ties That Bind</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/04/nafta-partners-take-steps-to-boost_09.html">NAFTA Partners Take Steps to Boost Trilateral Relationship</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/03/north-american-leaders-summit-and.html">The North American Leaders Summit and Reviving Trilateral Integration</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-80372310613894165742012-11-12T19:34:00.000-08:002014-11-08T15:27:48.020-08:00U.S.-Canada Integrated Cybersecurity AgendaBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwbHE1j4DDa5Zmt4GH_u8g_PQZvOxqa-MNvMB69Ullp3VhHCd1jJoEb3L5Lqn7DGDuY6iT8nMXfVe6YfNRsJwY16cwlKO6nQcW55dj0B2Tczi6Iv-UVTl8PpHL0qVqk_GaBJ7U_88O8cr/s1600/pic_feat_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="212" width="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwbHE1j4DDa5Zmt4GH_u8g_PQZvOxqa-MNvMB69Ullp3VhHCd1jJoEb3L5Lqn7DGDuY6iT8nMXfVe6YfNRsJwY16cwlKO6nQcW55dj0B2Tczi6Iv-UVTl8PpHL0qVqk_GaBJ7U_88O8cr/s400/pic_feat_01.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As part of the Beyond the Border initiative, the U.S. and Canada are strengthening cybersecurity cooperation. In a move that received little attention, both countries recently announced a joint cybersecurity action plan. Cyber threats know no national borders which has made the issue an important security concern. A fully integrated North American security perimeter would be entrusted with preventing and responding to any such attacks.<br />
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One of the key priorities identified in the November 2011 <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Beyond the Border Action Plan</a> is cybersecurity. The agreement lays the framework for enhancing U.S.-Canada, “bilateral cyber-security cooperation to better protect vital government and critical digital infrastructure and increase both countries' ability to respond jointly and effectively to cyber incidents. This will be achieved through joint projects and operational efforts, including joint briefings with the private sector and other stakeholders, and the enhancement of real-time information sharing between operation centres.” The deal will also work towards strengthening, “cooperation on international cyber-security and Internet governance issues to promote prosperity, enhance security and preserve openness in our networked world.” Merging cyber threat strategies would force Canada to further bring its security practices in line with American ones and under the reach of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). <a name='more'></a> <br />
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On October 26, Public Safety Canada and the DHS released a <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/cybrscrt-ctn-plan/cybrscrt-ctn-plan-eng.pdf">Cybersecurity Action Plan</a> which represents a key commitment under the Beyond the Border agreement. A <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/nws/nws-rlss/2012/20121026-1-eng.aspx">press release</a> explained that the specific goals include, “enhancing collaboration on cyber incident management between each country's cyber security operations centres, improving information sharing and engagement with the private sector, and continuing the ongoing collaboration between Canada and the U.S. on the promotion of cyber security awareness to the public.” The new joint action plan promotes a shared approach to cybersecurity and digital critical infrastructure protection. Building on these initiatives, both countries also seek to further integrate cyber capabilities into military command structures. <br />
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Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta authorized the creation of the <a href="http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/tabid/3104/Article/3062/norad-usnorthcom-joint-cyber-center-stands-up.aspx">Joint Cyber Center</a> (JCC) run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command. The JCC will bring together personnel from the intelligence, operations and command control systems divisions. The aim is, “To better integrate cyber into the headquarters missions by improving situational awareness in the cyber domain, improving the defense of the commands’ networks and providing cyber consequence response and recovery support to civil authorities.” In June, <a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120606/DEFREG02/306060010/Panetta-Green">DefenseNews reported</a> that Secretary Panetta, “approved a new organizational framework, a plan designed as a ‘first step’ towards standardized cyber operations.” This includes having a JCC at each geographic combatant command which is part of ongoing efforts to not only boost U.S., but continental cyber defense capabilities. In the near future, the U.S. and Canada could create a binational “cyber-NORAD” to protect North America from shared threats. <br />
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) released an updated <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120310083820/http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_09/20111004_110914-policy-cyberdefence.pdf">Policy on Cyber Defence</a> in June 2011. According to <a href="http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_75358.htm">NATO’s website</a>, “This revised policy offers a coordinated approach to cyber defence across the Alliance with a focus on preventing cyber attacks and building resilience.” It will act as the framework, “for how NATO will assist Allies, upon request, in their own cyber defence efforts, with the aim to optimise information sharing and situational awareness, collaboration and secure interoperability.” The new policy also, “sets the principles on NATO’s cyber defence cooperation with partner countries, international organisations, the private sector and academia.” In May of this year, the <a href="http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_87593.htm?mode=pressrelease">Chicago Summit Declaration</a>, “committed to provide the resources and complete the necessary reforms to bring all NATO bodies under centralised cyber protection.” It also pledged to, “further integrate cyber defence measures into Alliance structures and procedures.” U.S.-Canadian military cooperation also extends through NATO and this includes in the realm of cybersecurity. <br />
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There are reports that President Barack Obama may be close to issuing a cybersecurity executive order as a means of bypassing Congress. Under the guise of cybersecurity, the U.S. and Canada have been individually pushing draconian legislation domestically which would grant government agencies sweeping new powers. The implications would be far reaching and pose a risk to privacy and civil liberties. Through the Beyond the Border initiative both countries are pursuing an integrated cybersecurity agenda. As they move forward and address common threats to North America, cyber and perimeter security will be further defined and dominated by U.S. interests.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/10/new-border-regime-is-taking-us-canada_9.html">Taking the U.S.-Canada Partnership to the Next Level</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/12/pretext-for-north-american-homeland_11.html">Pretext for a North American Homeland Security Perimeter</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/02/us-canada-strengthening-security.html">Strengthening U.S.-Canada Security Interests in North America</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/06/perimeter-security-and-integrated-north.html">Perimeter Security and an Integrated North American Command</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgF7ek9lDZvqTQHjsUvfe5zCZIID9MIcZDW3rHRYiGy5W970oDeyFkL1sqOojkpD6TMo7w00EZST83G_PHCFbOTvdAoU2friBPN_QpF79wOIEjbEbFOo4brAqXwY9vuzkgryuYiafndqd/s1600/US-CANADA-Integrated-cyber-agenda-618x248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="161" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgF7ek9lDZvqTQHjsUvfe5zCZIID9MIcZDW3rHRYiGy5W970oDeyFkL1sqOojkpD6TMo7w00EZST83G_PHCFbOTvdAoU2friBPN_QpF79wOIEjbEbFOo4brAqXwY9vuzkgryuYiafndqd/s400/US-CANADA-Integrated-cyber-agenda-618x248.jpg" /></a></div>Image by <a href="http://www.naunewz.org/">NAU NEWZ</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-55665875775307205092012-10-28T17:04:00.000-07:002013-06-02T21:32:32.959-07:00Deepening the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade PartnershipBy Dana Gabriel <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9crJrkNN5CkQR3rCiSd8cIG3F72nJfJAILJ2ysU0r2gZDVYWJm4hT3nArD718BX2P6joPez-ndJ4oG9zSyN94EjwjQMdBu5Jc9KqJdsUDZqI8_BZcvF4kJVC1k6r4wvk3rIqRbaiLQSd0/s1600/imagesCAWQOOYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="212" width="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9crJrkNN5CkQR3rCiSd8cIG3F72nJfJAILJ2ysU0r2gZDVYWJm4hT3nArD718BX2P6joPez-ndJ4oG9zSyN94EjwjQMdBu5Jc9KqJdsUDZqI8_BZcvF4kJVC1k6r4wvk3rIqRbaiLQSd0/s400/imagesCAWQOOYC.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Overshadowed by the upcoming American election are reports that the U.S. and European Union (EU) are working towards launching official negotiations on a deal that would further deepen their transatlantic trade partnership. <br />
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According to a recent <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/17/us-eu-usa-trade-idUSBRE89G0KT20121017">Reuters</a> article, “Europe and the United States are set to launch trade talks early next year to deepen the world’s largest trading relationship.” It goes on to say that, “An expert group co-chaired by EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will in December issue a report recommending pursuing talks.” An EU official explained that, “The report will recommend the negotiation of a comprehensive agreement between the United States and the European Union.” Last week, the European Parliament also <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20121019IPR54034/html/Free-trade-with-the-US-but-not-at-any-price-say-MEPs">approved a resolution</a> calling for talks on a possible trade deal with the U.S. to begin in 2013. The U.S. and EU have already made incremental strides with regards to economic integration. With renewed political support, momentum for a transatlantic trade accord is building. <a name='more'></a><br />
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In 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel established the <a href="http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rt/eu/tec/index.htm">Transatlantic Economic Council</a> (TEC) to help eliminate trade barriers and harmonize standards. The move was seen as a step towards creating a single transatlantic market. Throughout the years, the TEC has advanced deep U.S.-EU integration. It has helped align policies in areas of investment, accounting, import safety, supply chain security, automobile standards, renewable energy, as well as others. The TEC continues to guide and stimulate transatlantic economic convergence.<br />
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At the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/28/joint-statement-us-eu-summit">U.S.-EU Summit</a> in November 2011, leaders from both sides directed the TEC to create a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/28/fact-sheet-high-level-working-group-jobs-and-growth">High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth</a>. This was viewed as another step forward to an eventual free trade deal. The Working Group was tasked with identifying, “policies and measures to increase U.S.-EU trade and investment to support mutually beneficial job creation, economic growth, and international competitiveness.” It was entrusted with examining options in areas of, “Conventional barriers to trade in goods, such as tariffs and tariff-rate quotas; Reduction, elimination, or prevention of barriers to trade in goods, services, and investment; Opportunities for enhancing the compatibility of regulations and standards; Reduction, elimination, or prevention of unnecessary ‘behind the border’ non-tariff barriers to trade in all categories; Enhanced cooperation for the development of rules and principles on global issues of common concern and also for the achievement of shared economic goals relating to third countries.” A U.S.-EU trade agreement could serve as a model for the rest of the world, setting common standards on regulations, tariffs and investment rules.<br />
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In June, the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth issued an <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/reports-and-publications/2012/interim-report-eu-us-working-group">interim report</a> which endorsed beginning talks on a comprehensive trade deal. It outlined categories that a potential agreement should include such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, regulatory issues, services, investment, procurement, intellectual property rights and rules. A <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/19/joint-us-eu-statement-high-level-working-group-jobs-and-growth">Joint U.S.-EU Statement</a> urged, “the Group to complete its work as quickly as possible, including consultations with public and private stakeholders, in accordance with the respective processes of both sides, with the goal of reaching a recommendation to Leaders later this year on a decision as to the negotiations.” At a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/20/remarks-president-obama-press-conference-after-g20-summit">press conference</a> following the G20 Summit in Mexico, President Barack Obama also acknowledged that, “the United States and the European Union agreed to take the next step in our work towards the possible launching of negotiations on an agreement to strengthen our already very deep trade and investment partnership.” An official announcement is expected sometime after the U.S. election and if trade talks begin early next year, a deal could be signed before the end of 2014.<br />
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The U.S.-EU partnership remains the foundation for an international economic order. Regardless of whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney wins the upcoming election, it appears as if U.S.-EU trade negotiations will become a priority. More globalization is not the solution to our financial woes. Such an agreement would serve to further erode U.S. sovereignty and economic freedom. If you factor in that the EU already has a trade deal with Mexico and is close to signing one with Canada, combined with a future agreement with the U.S., you then have the basis for a NAFTA-EU free trade zone. This would be an important step in advancing the goal of creating a Transatlantic Union. <br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/growing-opposition-to-canada-eu-trade.html">Growing Opposition to the Canada-EU Trade Agreement</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/03/advancing-transatlantic-agenda.html">Advancing the Transatlantic Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/01/from-nafta-to-ceta-canada-eu-deep.html">From NAFTA to CETA: Canada-EU Deep Economic Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/flashback-spreading-naftas-love-across.html">Spreading NAFTA's Love Across the Atlantic</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-52955845825515881202012-10-09T17:46:00.001-07:002014-11-09T22:26:35.823-08:00New Border Regime is Taking the U.S.-Canada Partnership to the Next Level By Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_HasW-M6JNmeTvfFeMpT5amOwZ_U_WLYtNoHopm2DArXwnuyw2X31m-dsqV7Pa5-KJacT0CtH6SKPSBGRTXSbwLPO3OdaesG8eYrckGW23A3GfFSgwvdBVlXPjnjy8AIS-JXbYK51LsY/s1600/usacanadapuzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="212" width="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_HasW-M6JNmeTvfFeMpT5amOwZ_U_WLYtNoHopm2DArXwnuyw2X31m-dsqV7Pa5-KJacT0CtH6SKPSBGRTXSbwLPO3OdaesG8eYrckGW23A3GfFSgwvdBVlXPjnjy8AIS-JXbYK51LsY/s400/usacanadapuzzle.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Beyond the Border deal announced in December 2011 represents the most significant step forward in U.S.-Canada cooperation since NAFTA. Dual action plans are further transforming trade, regulatory and security relations between both countries. Over the next few years, various cross-border initiatives will be rolled out, with some beginning as pilot programs. The U.S. and Canada have laid the framework for a new border regime which is taking their partnership to the next level and pushing the continent closer to a fully integrated North American security perimeter.<br />
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The Department of Homeland Security and Canada Border Services Agency recently announced the <a href="http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/release-communique/2012/2012-09-28b-eng.html">Phase I pilot of the Entry/Exit program</a> which is part of the <a href="http://photos.state.gov/libraries/canada/303578/pdfs/us-canada-btb_action_plan.pdf">Beyond the Border Action Plan</a>. It will include collecting and exchanging biographic information of third-country nationals, permanent residents of Canada, and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. at four selected land border ports of entry. A <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140320233346/http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/117-eng.html">fact sheet</a> stressed how this, “is an important step as both countries move towards a coordinated entry/exit system that will strengthen border and immigration programs, support law enforcement, and accelerate the legitimate flow of people and goods into Canada and the United States and across our common border.” The Canadian government is also advancing plans to use <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?crtr.sj1D=&crtr.mnthndVl=12&mthd=advSrch&crtr.dpt1D=6664&nid=711349&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.tp1D=1&crtr.yrStrtVl=2002&crtr.kw=&crtr.dyStrtVl=1&crtr.aud1D=&crtr.mnthStrtVl=1&crtr.page=13&crtr.yrndVl=2013&crtr.dyndVl=31">biometrics for immigration and border security</a> that would bring them in line with the U.S. and other countries. The perimeter security agreement called for implementing, “systematic and automated biographic information-sharing capability by 2013 and biometric information-sharing capability by 2014.” A North American biometric identification system could be used to restrict, track and trace our movements. <a name='more'></a> <br />
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On October 4, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Transport Canada officials <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2012/10/04/tsa-pre%E2%9C%93%E2%84%A2-expands-canadian-nexus-members">announced</a> the extension of the expedited screening initiative, <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-pre%E2%9C%93%E2%84%A2">TSA Pre✓™</a> which will now include lanes for Canadian NEXUS members at 27 participating U.S. airports. Canadian Minister of State For Transport Steven Fletcher explained that, “The Government of Canada and the United States are delivering on commitments to include Canadian NEXUS members in designated TSA Pre✓™ lanes as part of the Beyond the Border Action Plan.” He went on to say, “This will mean smarter and faster air travel for Canadian NEXUS members traveling within the U.S., while maintaining a high level of aviation security.” TSA Administrator John Pistole acknowledged that, “The inclusion of Canadian NEXUS members in TSA Pre✓™ is an important step in further harmonizing the security screening process between the U.S. and Canada.” Under <a href="http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/nexus.xml">NEXUS</a>, pre-screened travelers are granted expedited access across the border, by air, land or sea. As part of the perimeter security deal, both countries are expanding and integrating trusted traveler programs.<br />
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The Next-Generation pilot project which would permit <a href="http://www.embassymag.ca/news/2012/09/19/plan-to-have-us-agents-on-canadian-soil-on-hold-government/42409?absolute=1">U.S. agents on Canadian soil is on hold</a> while legal issues are being resolved. The security perimeter agreement stated that both countries would, “create integrated teams in areas such as intelligence and criminal investigations, and an intelligence-led uniformed presence between ports of entry.” The plan which is a land-based version of the <a href="http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ibet-eipf/shiprider-eng.htm">Shiprider</a> program was scheduled to be deployed this summer. Allowing U.S. agents to cross the border and pursue suspects into Canada poses a threat to sovereignty and could infringe on personal privacy laws. The pilot project is part of the process of acclimating U.S. policing activities in Canada and could later be expanded.<br />
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Last month, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency established a <a href="http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/meat-and-poultry-products/program-changes/update-beyond-the-border/eng/1348789386214/1348789475806">pre-clearance initiative pilot project on import re-inspection activities for fresh meat</a>. This is tied to the Beyond the Border deal and is aimed at streamlining meat inspections at the U.S.-Canada border. Just as the joint program was being rolled out, XL Foods in Alberta, Canada announced a massive <a href="http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/consumer-centre/food-safety-investigations/xl-foods/eng/1347937722467/1347937818275">recall of meat products</a> due to E. coli contamination. This came on the heels of a letter from the <a href="http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/BTBVilsackLetterwithImagesSept182012Press_copy.pdf">Safe Food Coalition</a> to the USDA citing concerns that food safety could be compromised and requesting that the border inspection pilot be halted. Some of the potential tainted meat could have been shipped to at least eight U.S. states. In a <a href="http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/pressreleases/wheres-the-recall-tainted-canadian-beef-presently-in-the-u-s-deregulation-plans-underway-would-bring-more/">press statement</a>, the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, Wenonah Hauter pointed out that, “the Obama Administration and the Harper Government in Canada have been plotting to eliminate the very border inspection program that tipped off authorities that there was a major problem brewing with the products originating from the XL plant.” Plans to further deregulate food safety inspections could lead to more trouble in the future.<br />
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In September, Transport Canada and the United States Coast Guard <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131120101008/http://tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/releases-2012-h092e-6850.htm">launched a pilot project</a> that will include joint Port State Control inspections of non-Canadian and non-U.S. flagged vessels in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway. Rear Adm. Mike Parks, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District described how, “This initiative is in keeping with President Obama's and Prime Minister Harper's Beyond the Border Perimeter Security Initiative protecting the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway region, which provides common access to the heart of North America. Our goal is to make vessel inspections more efficient and facilitate American and Canadian business on both sides of our shared border.” The program is outlined in the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/us-canada_rcc_joint_action_plan3.pdf">Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Action Plan</a> and establishes a, “safety and security framework for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway that will align the two countries’ regulatory requirements. This pilot project will look for efficiencies in order to reduce duplicate inspections and impediments to trade.” When completed, recommendations will be made on whether to form a permanent binational foreign vessel inspection program.<br />
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NAFTA partners, in conjunction with multinational corporations and influential think tanks are pushing for deeper North American integration. As far as the upcoming U.S. election goes, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are both committed globalists and have no intentions of upholding the constitution or protecting what is left of American sovereignty. The notion of real choice is now even more of an illusion. Minus the Democrat and Republican rhetoric, it’s essentially the same policies, same agenda, and the same team. It doesn’t matter who wins the presidency, the path towards a North American Union will continue.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/07/paving-way-for-us-canada-economic-and.html">Paving the Way for a U.S.-Canada Economic and Security Perimeter</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/laying-foundation-for-north-american.html">Laying the Foundation for a North American Security Perimeter</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/05/us-and-canada-quietly-implementing.html">Implementing Beyond the Border Perimeter Security Initiatives</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/03/perimeter-approach-to-security-and.html">A Perimeter Approach to Security and the Transformation of the U.S.-Canada Border</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-26060481398686534662012-08-28T16:24:00.007-07:002014-11-09T21:51:30.641-08:00Growing Opposition to the Canada-EU Trade Agreement By Dana Gabriel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2jKmwBnGRvsg9OnOVWzg5kRCmpaXnsJLbpjsU5kYbuFRBY6mwmZVzLSY28HQWt2xNJrhPFgwQQQ540jeq_0h34yfLncNaEr8GHPIGN1WDiGT6itv5PTRqmo_fo3YymAhJzPnuwXXTHbv/s1600/Canada-EU-flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2jKmwBnGRvsg9OnOVWzg5kRCmpaXnsJLbpjsU5kYbuFRBY6mwmZVzLSY28HQWt2xNJrhPFgwQQQ540jeq_0h34yfLncNaEr8GHPIGN1WDiGT6itv5PTRqmo_fo3YymAhJzPnuwXXTHbv/s320/Canada-EU-flags.jpg" height="212" width="373" /></a></div><br />
With the final rounds of negotiations sessions planned for September and October, Canada and the EU are closing in on a free trade deal that would go far beyond the reach of NAFTA. Meanwhile, there is growing opposition to the agreement as the whole process has lacked openness, transparency and any public consultations. In Canada, there are concerns over the threat it poses to local democracy. This includes fears of deregulation and privatization, as well the expansion of corporate investor rights. There are also warnings that the deal could be used as a backdoor means to implement ACTA which was rejected by the European Parliament in July.<br />
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As the Canada-European Union (EU) <a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/ceta-aecg/index.aspx?lang=eng">Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement</a> (CETA) talks near their end, the Council of Canadians continue to voice their opposition to the deal. While I don’t agree with their position on some different issues, they have been championing the fight against CETA. In an effort to counter misleading statements made by the Conservative government regarding the trade pact, they have released the report, the <a href="http://www.canadians.org/content/report-ceta-deception-how-harper-government%E2%80%99s-public-relations-campaign-misrepresents-canada">CETA Deception</a>. Trade campaigner, <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/council-canadians/2012/07/new-report-fights-harpers-ceta-deception">Stuart Trew explained</a> how this is an effort to, “challenge the government’s reassurances that its EU trade deal will not affect public health or environmental regulations, will not allow foreign corporations to challenge public policy, will not undermine public services or municipal democracy, will not increase drug prices or hurt Canada’s supports for arts and culture. In each case, the government’s position is either misleading or demonstrably false.” As a result of the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130506055823/http://www.canadians.org/action/2011/CETA-resolution.html">threat CETA poses to local sovereignty</a>, a growing number of Canadian municipalities have passed resolutions seeking more information and a greater say in negotiations with some also requesting to be excluded from the agreement. <a name='more'></a><br />
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In her recent visit to Canada, German Chancellor Angela Merkel <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/merkel-pledges-support-for-canada-eu-free-trade-pact-1.916629">pledged support for the Canada-EU free-trade pact</a> and promised to see to it that talks come to a speedy conclusion. The endorsement was seen as a much needed boost for Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is eager to get a deal signed before the end of the year. The Conservative government maintains that deeper trade with the EU will create jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. They have also tried to convince the public that CETA has been one of the most transparent trade negotiations in Canadian history. In an article for <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120910052017/http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/07/24/stuart-trew-ceta-will-constrain-options-for-governments-at-all-levels/">iPolitics</a>, Stuart Trew stressed that, “If CETA and agreements like it are supposed to be 21st century or ‘next-generation’ free trade deals, they should be negotiated in 21st century ways ― openly, transparently, and with broad public input. Failure to do so in the ACTA negotiations led to that agreement’s demise in the European Parliament. The same fate could easily await CETA on both sides of the Atlantic.”<br />
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Last month, after mounting public pressure, the European Parliament <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120703IPR48247/html/European-Parliament-rejects-ACTA">rejected</a> the <a href="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2012/01/20120125acta.pdf">Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement</a> (ACTA). The vote was the result of, “unprecedented direct lobbying by thousands of EU citizens who called on it to reject ACTA, in street demonstrations, e-mails to MEPs and calls to their offices. Parliament also received a petition, signed by 2.8 million citizens worldwide.” The U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand, as well as other countries have also signed on to ACTA, but have yet to ratify the deal. ACTA poses a serious risk to internet freedom and privacy. It would also give an unfair advantage to patented medicines and limit access to affordable generic options. Academic researcher and law professor <a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6578/125/">Michael Geist warned</a> that, “In the coming weeks and months, we can expect new efforts to revive the agreement within Europe and to find alternative means to implement its provisions.” It now appears that EU negotiators are trying to use CETA to sneak in ACTA. <br />
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Just days after ACTA was defeated, Michael Geist <a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1223118--controversial-copyright-rules-threaten-canada-european-trade-deal">reported</a> that leaked documents show the, “EU plans to use the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA), which is nearing its final stages of negotiation, as a backdoor mechanism to implement the ACTA provisions.” He noted that, “The European Commission strategy appears to be to use CETA as the new ACTA, burying its provisions in a broader Canadian trade agreement with the hope that the European Parliament accepts the same provisions it just rejected with the ACTA framework.” After initially refusing to comment on the leak, the European Commission issued the statement, <a href="http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=826">CETA is not ACTA</a> in which they claimed that, “The accusations are unfounded since they rely on outdated and incomplete information.” In a recent <a href="http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6609/125/">update</a>, Geist reaffirmed that the, “concerns that CETA may replicate ACTA appear to be very real despite the denials from the European Commission.” This whole issue has caused an uproar across Europe and in Canada and has brought much needed attention to CETA. <br />
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In their article, <a href="http://www.canadians.org/node/4485">A trade deal that sets a bad precedent</a>, Stuart Trew and Blair Redlin emphasized other CETA dangers besides ACTA which may threaten European policy and interests. They pointed out that CETA will be the first EU-wide investor-rights treaty covering all member states. Trew and Redlin posed the question, “What difference would a new treaty with Canada make? It is important to keep in mind the deep integration of the North American economy. The same U.S. firms that have taken Canada before investor-state panels under the North American free-trade agreement (NAFTA) 17 times will be able to challenge EU policy through their Canadian investments.” As far as NAFTA rules go, any rights granted to EU corporations as part of CETA would also apply to North American companies. CETA is being used to bridge the NAFTA and EU trade models. Ultimately, what happens with CETA will affect how the U.S. and EU move forward with their own future free trade plans. <br />
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According to <a href="http://scfp.ca/updir/Shrybman_CETA_opinion_E.pdf">legal analysis</a> by international trade and public interest lawyer, Steven Shrybman, CETA would expand NAFTA investor rights and protections. He acknowledged that, “With CETA, Canada is proposing to accord EU investors and services providers far more expansive rights than those accorded (to) their U.S. and Mexican counterparts. Canada would therefore be required to provide this ‘most-favoured’ treatment to its NAFTA partners, even though neither is making reciprocal commitments.” Shrybman also described how the trade deal will give European corporations new rights at the expense of provincial powers. He cautioned that, “CETA represents a dramatic expansion of the application of international rules to spheres of provincial and local governance.” He went on to say, “policy and regulatory options of provincial, territorial and municipal governments will be curtailed to a much greater extent than has been the case under these earlier free trade agreements.” Modeled in the same fashion as NAFTA’s Chapter 11, the investor-state dispute process in CETA would give EU corporations the right to challenge government policies that restrict their profits.<br />
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As negotiations enter their final stretch, it is imperative to get the word out on how CETA could further jeopardize our political and economic sovereignty. A NAFTA-style free trade agreement with Europe that gives corporations further powers to influence Canadian laws would be dangerous and destructive. Considering the deepening economic crisis in Europe and the real possibility that the Eurozone could break up, it is also the wrong time for Canada to be entering into this trade deal with the EU.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/03/advancing-transatlantic-agenda.html">Advancing the Transatlantic Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/01/from-nafta-to-ceta-canada-eu-deep.html">From NAFTA to CETA: Canada-EU Deep Economic Integration</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/flashback-spreading-naftas-love-across.html">Spreading NAFTA's Love Across the Atlantic</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-44631082385993991132012-08-26T18:49:00.016-07:002013-04-13T07:19:24.444-07:00FLASHBACK: Spreading NAFTA's Love Across the Atlantic(Originally published in October of 2008)<br />
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By Dana Gabriel <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SOy7Zu-i1UJK_cpE9j7Bts0BcBqA9IwGZ09xfGI1DqItBzd7fVNTda3ZNFtAw_C1jIk2ScxdOsJzqCQjEzJR_EP7U3m7UeWL3pxWCh3Hpy2QgUUwUb6QBFbBhwVizKHC_XVaUxejD7n4/s1600/r-EU-TRADE-CANADA-huge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SOy7Zu-i1UJK_cpE9j7Bts0BcBqA9IwGZ09xfGI1DqItBzd7fVNTda3ZNFtAw_C1jIk2ScxdOsJzqCQjEzJR_EP7U3m7UeWL3pxWCh3Hpy2QgUUwUb6QBFbBhwVizKHC_XVaUxejD7n4/s400/r-EU-TRADE-CANADA-huge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781164973431761234" /></a><br />
Canada and the European Union (EU) are set to begin preliminary discussions on deeper economic integration a mere three days after the election. It has been reported that the proposed trade deal will far exceed NAFTA. Some see this as an opportunity to possibly update the 15 year-old accord. Stephen Harper is busy telling Canadians that only a Conservative majority government will be able to bring confidence back and stabilize the economy. That is why I find it a little strange that this has not become a pillar of the Conservatives economic platform. Harper has decided not to release the full text of the draft proposal until after the election on October 14. The reality is that such an agreement with the EU will be no different than NAFTA in the sense that it will be used to further advance corporate interests.<br />
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For the past several months, Canadian officials have been hard at work negotiating with EU representatives. They have compiled a detailed study that will be unveiled after the election. Talks could begin as early as October 17 at a summit in Montreal , with formal negotiations set to begin in 2009. Just as the case with the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) labour, citizen groups and the public at large have been excluded from any discussions. Many support this trade initiative because they wish to lessen Canada’s dependency on the American economy. This agreement has a better chance of succeeding if Harper is re-elected Prime Minister. There still remains much secrecy surrounding trade talks with the EU, and up to this point, Harper appears to be reluctant to make this an election issue. <a name='more'></a><br />
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French and current rotating EU president Nicolas Sarkozy has said that he wishes economic integration with Canada to be part of his lasting legacy. Europe sees Canada’s energy resources as a possible solution to easing their dependency on Russian oil and gas. In a commentary that appeared in the Globe and Mail, Alan Alexandroff, co-author of the C.D. Howe Institute paper titled Still Amigos, writes, “If the EU and Canada can forge an accord that covers services, government procurement and skilled labour that could well set the table for reviving the original NAFTA.” He went on to say, “If the EU and Canada join hands, the U.S. and Mexico will be eager to join the party.” Some believe that such an agreement will further advance North American integration while spreading NAFTA to Europe. A Canada-EU trade deal could be used as the model for future bilateral accords and as a way to further renew U.S.-EU relations.<br />
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There are calls to further deepen the U.S.-EU partnership with a new sense of multilateralism in areas of trade, climate change, and fighting terrorism. In April of 2007, it was announced with very little fanfare that the U.S.-EU had reached a deal on a new Trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership. They agreed to set up an economic council and further boost trade and investment by harmonizing services, business takeovers, and intellectual property. They also agreed to continue working towards eliminating non-tariff barriers to trade, which could eventually lead to a U.S.-EU single market.<br />
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Economic integration was a first step in the creation of the EU, and a similar stealth approach is being used to advance a North American Union. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso recently said in a speech, “We have to make room at the top table for others, because that is the only way we can consolidate and strengthen a stable, multilateral world, governed by internationally agreed rules.” He also stated, “the time has come to start thinking of an Atlantic Agenda for Globalisation.” With the further erosion of national sovereignty and continued economic, social, cultural and environmental integration, we are on an undeniable path towards world government.<br />
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With the collapse of the WTO talks, more bilateral trade agreements will be used in advancing the New World Order’s agenda. The global elite, pushing for world government, are using the current financial turmoil to acquire more wealth and power. Economic uncertainty could also be used to usher in a North American Union with its own currency. A Canada-EU trade deal is yet another incremental step towards global governance.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/08/growing-opposition-to-canada-eu-trade.html">Growing Opposition to the Canada-EU Trade Agreement</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/03/advancing-transatlantic-agenda.html">Advancing the Transatlantic Agenda</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/01/from-nafta-to-ceta-canada-eu-deep.html">From NAFTA to CETA: Canada-EU Deep Economic Integration</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-81881946825747871252012-07-18T17:35:00.013-07:002014-11-09T11:26:33.064-08:00Paving the Way for a U.S.-Canada Economic and Security PerimeterBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWFeH84VggX8-Y95zrmHGscqmchXq2LEbyIPPD0gZ2fZOW7i-GExM1BaZjQIZ_EUyR7sGpulyhddwSJaO-PBP-2vElvVrAzfFa_3z58aSKXwAqxUVOWzP31Z4R0YstIKUQqZlKvLmWDG3/s1600/shaking-hands-w-flags-300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWFeH84VggX8-Y95zrmHGscqmchXq2LEbyIPPD0gZ2fZOW7i-GExM1BaZjQIZ_EUyR7sGpulyhddwSJaO-PBP-2vElvVrAzfFa_3z58aSKXwAqxUVOWzP31Z4R0YstIKUQqZlKvLmWDG3/s400/shaking-hands-w-flags-300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5765216918596728290" /></a> <br />
Over the past several months, the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border action plan has taken significant steps forward. This includes efforts to modernize and expand infrastructure at key land ports. In a move that went largely unnoticed, both countries also recently agreed on a statement of privacy principles that will guide information sharing across the border. Meanwhile, a separate joint initiative has been announced which addresses energy and environmental issues.<br />
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President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper launched the <a href="http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/dialogue/default.asp?lang=En&n=C3D58516-1">U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue</a> (CED) in 2009 to promote new ways to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change. The <a href="http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/CED%20Action%20Plan%20II_June%2012%202012.pdf">CED Action Plan II</a> released last month, outlines the next phase of activities both countries will undertake. This includes continued work on carbon capture and storage, as well as integrating the electricity grid. In a <a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=B55159A3-4F9B-4AA9-B3B9-F0F408C99D04">press statement</a>, Canada’s Minister of the Environment Peter Kent explained that the CED, “strengthens our efforts to collaborate on innovative clean energy solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” He also commented on how "It is our hope that the transformation of our economies and our joint work will identify clean energy solutions that will contribute to making sustainable energy a reality for all." Whether real or exaggerated, environmental issues are also advancing North American integration. If you look at some of the words being used and the goals being pushed, they are tied to Agenda 21. Under the guise of protecting the environment, many solutions being offered are in the form of more taxes and control over our lives. <a name='more'></a><br />
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In June, Canada reached an agreement with the State of Michigan to build a second bridge between Windsor and Detroit which is one of North America’s busiest land crossings. A <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=4864">press release</a> described how, “The new Detroit River International Crossing will facilitate the movement of people and goods between Canada and the U.S. by ensuring that there is sufficient border crossing capacity to handle projected growth in cross-border trade and traffic.” It goes on to say that the, “announcement demonstrates that the Government of Canada is working to advance the goals of the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness</a>.” During a <a href="http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=4866">speech</a>, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the new bridge, “an investment in the future of the North American economy, of North American trade and of North American manufacturing.” With the existing Ambassador Bridge being privately owned, motivation for the project is largely based on being able to further control border trade and traffic in the region. It is also part of the necessary transportation infrastructure needed for a trade corridor that would span from Windsor, Ontario to southern Mexico.<br />
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The U.S. and Canada recently issued a <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/policy/beyond-the-border-action-plan-statement-of-privacy-principles.pdf">Statement of Privacy Principles</a> that will shape information sharing arrangements under the perimeter security deal. The charter covers areas such as oversight, accountability, redress, retention, data quality and information security. Attorney General Eric Holder acknowledged in a Department of Justice <a href="http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/June/12-ag-828.html">news release</a> that “These privacy principles reflect the shared commitment of the United States and Canada to implement our Beyond the Border Action Plan.” The Freedom of Information and Privacy Association <a href="http://fipa.bc.ca/home/news/320">warned</a> that, “What the government just announced will certainly provide more access to Canadians personal information to the U.S. and other governments.” The <a href="http://ccla.org/2012/06/29/new-privacy-principles-released-between-canada-us-for-security-perimeter/">Canadian Civil Liberties Association</a> have also voiced concerns on privacy safeguard provisions that were not included which, “may permit the lowest standard between the two countries to prevail.” Ever since the perimeter security action plan was first unveiled in December 2011, there have been fears associated with personal data collected and exchanged at the border. This latest announcement has done little to ease these worries with respect to privacy rights and civil liberties.<br />
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As part of their commitment under the Beyond the Border agreement, both countries have also announced the establishment of <a href="http://canada.usembassy.gov/news-events/2012-news-and-events/june-2012/13-june-2012-establishing-joint-port-operations-committees-at-eight-canadian-airports.html">Joint Port Operations Committees</a> at eight Canadian airports that offer U.S. pre-clearance service. The move is designed to, “help facilitate legitimate cross-border trade and travel and promote collaboration on overall port management.” In June, the <a href="http://canada.usembassy.gov/news-events/2012-news-and-events/june-2012/21-june-2012-beyond-the-border-steering-committee.html">Beyond the Border Executive Steering Committee</a> met to oversee progress on the implementation of the action plan. They announced that in the interest of transparency and accountability, a joint public report will be issued in December. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews also recently gave an <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/nws/nws-rlss/2012/20120716-eng.aspx">update</a> on other aspects of the perimeter security deal. He stated, “We are making great progress. We have, for example, added NEXUS lanes, made air cargo screening programs mutually recognizable and installed new passenger screening machines to end duplicate screening in Canadian airports.” Toews added, “More work continues every day to fully implement this new shared vision that represents the most significant step forward in Canada-U.S. cooperation since the North American Free Trade Agreement." <br />
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Despite some minor setbacks with regards to bilateral relations, Canada has moved closer to its American partner under Prime Minister Harper. The Beyond the Border deal provides the essential framework for U.S.-Canada integration with the action plan being incrementally implemented. This piece by piece approach has allowed many different initiatives to go unnoticed and fly under the radar. Some of these individual steps may seem insignificant, but combined together they are further merging economic and security ties between both countries. This is paving the way for a North American security perimeter which would mean sacrificing what is left of our sovereignty and independence.<br />
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Related articles by Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/using-tpp-to-renegotiate-and-expand.html">Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTA</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/06/laying-foundation-for-north-american.html">Laying the Foundation for a North American Security Perimeter</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/05/us-and-canada-quietly-implementing.html">Implementing Beyond the Border Perimeter Security Initiatives</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/03/perimeter-approach-to-security-and.html">The Transformation of the U.S.-Canada Border</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-35951723026414922532012-06-25T16:55:00.015-07:002014-11-09T21:57:00.102-08:00Using the TPP to Renegotiate and Expand NAFTABy Dana Gabriel<br />
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Both Canada and Mexico have been invited to join the U.S., along with other countries already engaged in negotiations which will deepen trade and economic ties within the Asia-Pacific region. Such a deal would surpass NAFTA in size and scope. The U.S. led talks which have been criticized for their secretive nature, could be used to update aspects of existing trade pacts among member nations. This would provide the perfect opportunity for a backdoor renegotiation of NAFTA without officially having to open it back up.<br />
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After expressing interest in joining trade talks back in November 2011, NAFTA partners have been invited to join the U.S. backed <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2011/november/outlines-trans-pacific-partnership-agreement">Trans-Pacific Partnership</a> (TPP) which also includes Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk welcomed both <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2012/june/ustr-mexico-new-tpp-partner">Mexico</a> and <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2012/june/ustr-kirk-welcomes-canada-as-new-tpp-partner">Canada</a> into the TPP fold. He noted that, “Mexico has assured the United States that it is prepared to conclude a high-standard agreement that will include issues that were not covered in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).” He added, “Inviting Canada to join the TPP negotiations presents a unique opportunity for the United States to build upon this already dynamic trading relationship. Through TPP, we are bringing the relationship with our largest trading partner into the 21st century.” A <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/19/joint-statement-united-states-and-canada">joint statement</a> by the U.S. and Canada acknowledged that, “The TPP presents an opportunity to conclude a high standard agreement that will build on the commitments of NAFTA.” <a name='more'></a><br />
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The <a href="http://canadians.org/media/trade/2012/19-Jun-12.html">Council of Canadians</a> who continue to be vocal opponents of NAFTA and other trade deals that follow the same flawed template, are strongly against Canada’s entry into the TPP. Its national chairperson, Maude Barlow warned that this, “could force Canada to change its drug policies, its copyright policies, its environmental and public health rules – all without going through the normal parliamentary process.” The organization cautioned how, “TPP negotiations could mean up-front concessions in a number of areas, including intellectual property rights, where the U.S. is making considerable demands on TPP member countries that will undermine access to essential medicines so that its multinational drug firms can increase profits.” They also emphasized that, “Supply management, which guarantees fair wages and stable prices for farmers in non-exporting sectors, is too valuable to Canada to sacrifice on a negotiating table.” Others have pointed out that it is important as a buy-local program, as well as key to Canada’s food security and food sovereignty. The Council of Canadians maintains that, “the TPP is by and large a NAFTA renegotiation but on U.S. President Obama’s terms.” <br />
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Not surprisingly, the <a href="http://www.ceocouncil.ca/news-item/ceos-applaud-historic-commitment-to-stronger-asia-pacific-trade-and-investment-ties">Canadian Council of Chief Executives</a>, an organization that lobbies the government on behalf of the country’s largest corporations, welcomed the announcement that Canada has been invited to join the TPP talks. Its President and CEO John Manley stated that, “By signing on to the TPP, the federal government has taken an historic leap toward securing Canada’s long-term strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region.” The U.S. Chamber of Commerce have also <a href="https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-applauds-canada%E2%80%99s-entry-trans-pacific-partnership-negotiations">applauded</a> Canada and Mexico’s entry into the TPP. Its President and CEO Thomas Donohue argued that, “negotiating the TPP together is an excellent strategic decision for North America.” Back in January, the <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/articles/submission-comments-office-united-states-trade-representative-canadas-expression-interest">Council of the Americas</a> explained how, “it makes little sense for the United States to enter into potentially significant trade arrangements with countries in the Pacific region without our NAFTA partners.” They view the TPP as a “promising vehicle to support the updating of our bilateral and trilateral trading relationships within North America to the high standards of twenty-first century free-trade agreements.” <br />
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In his article, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120910052216/http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/06/19/peter-clark-will-invitation-to-join-tpp-talks-lead-to-nafta-2-0/">Will invitation to join TPP talks lead to NAFTA 2.0?</a>, Peter Clark one of Canada’s leading international trade strategists concluded that, “A successful TPP would allow NAFTA to essentially be re-opened without the optics of it actually being re-opened.” He went on to say, “The business leaders in all three NAFTA countries, as strong supporters of TPP invitations to Canada and Mexico, understand that after nearly 20 years, modernization of NAFTA is needed. For rules of origin, supply chain management and manufacturing integration.” Clark stressed that, “All Canadians should be clear about this – TPP is the negotiation of NAFTA 2.0 and it could have major implications for Canada-USA trade relations.” Meanwhile, both countries are implementing the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Beyond the Border Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan</a> which has been described as the most significant steps forward in U.S.-Canada cooperation since NAFTA. <a href="http://www.hudson.org/research/9003-how-the-trans-pacific-partnership-will-change-canada">Christopher Sands</a> of the Hudson Institute observed how, “The TPP negotiating agenda is at once similar to the bilateral agenda that Canada and the United States are pursuing, and also more ambitious and multilateral.”<br />
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In May, the TPP held its <a href="http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2012/may/trans-pacific-partnership-tpp-talks-advance-texas">twelfth round of negotiations</a> with the next set of talks scheduled to take place in San Diego, California from July 2-10. So far, there has been a real lack of transparency, but what is clear is that the TPP seeks to go beyond other trade agreements. According to a <a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2012/06/controversial-trade-pact-text-leaked-shows-us-trade-officials-have-agreed-to-terms-that-undermine-ob.html">leaked text by Public Citizen</a>, it would expand on the investor privileges found in NAFTA, granting corporations more power and further threatening the sovereign rights of member nations. In the meantime, the U.S. continues to spearhead TPP negotiations as a way of countering growing Chinese influence. The door is open for other countries to join which is why it is considered to be a stepping stone to a larger free trade area of the Asia-Pacific and an important part of the international corporate globalization agenda. <br />
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Trade deals such as NAFTA and now the TPP are being used to smuggle through a new set of transnational corporate rights, trapping nations in a web of treaties that further trump their own laws. All too often, these agreements fail to deliver on the promise of prosperity and only serve to accelerate the path towards economic enslavement. Globalization has meant sacrificing self-sufficiency and sovereignty for foreign dependency which is a sure path to world government. <br />
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Related Articles By Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/11/canada-and-mexico-to-join-us-in-nafta.html">Canada and Mexico to Join U.S. in NAFTA of the Pacific</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2009/11/building-blocks-towards-asia-pacific.html">Building Blocks Towards an Asia-Pacific Union</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/04/nafta-partners-take-steps-to-boost_09.html">NAFTA Partners Take Steps to Boost Trilateral Relationship</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2010/10/us-economic-political-and-military.html">U.S. Economic, Political and Military Expansion in Asia-Pacific</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256388617423180006.post-28855071689087158562012-06-11T15:58:00.006-07:002014-11-09T11:07:47.601-08:00Laying the Foundation for a North American Security PerimeterBy Dana Gabriel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0j9WTkj-AGAyuRupKTPmpzN70Hu4ZtkJlcv1Lo_VboyqY2T2FHCzsdgWNI6O0rM09S26qEIDnP1-L1uI-Ls6cIpU_Sw0B7d0yAQ0w5_ASn8XBFYOEKQiOg5xuH980NY2V9WloxAqZB90/s1600/NASecurity_perimeter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0j9WTkj-AGAyuRupKTPmpzN70Hu4ZtkJlcv1Lo_VboyqY2T2FHCzsdgWNI6O0rM09S26qEIDnP1-L1uI-Ls6cIpU_Sw0B7d0yAQ0w5_ASn8XBFYOEKQiOg5xuH980NY2V9WloxAqZB90/s400/NASecurity_perimeter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5752517407267161666" /></a><br />
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently unveiled a northern border strategy which seeks to address security concerns, while at the same time facilitating the flow of lawful travel and trade. The new plan promotes enhanced shared intelligence and joint law enforcement integration with Canada. It further builds on initiatives included in the Beyond the Border agreement and is part of ongoing efforts to lay the foundation for a North American security perimeter.<br />
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On June 5, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/policy/dhs-northern-border-strategy.pdf">Northern Border Strategy</a> (NBS) aimed at deterring and preventing terrorism, smuggling, trafficking and illegal immigration. In a <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/20120605-napolitano-northern-border-strategy.shtm">press release</a> she explained how the new plan, “provides a unifying framework for the Department’s work focused on enhancing the security and resiliency along our northern border while expediting legitimate travel and trade with Canada.” In order to accomplish these objectives, the NBS will work to, “improve information sharing and analysis within DHS, as well as with key partners. The Department will also enhance coordination of U.S.-Canada joint interdictions and investigations, deploy technologies to aid joint security efforts along the border, and continue to update infrastructure.” The NBS parallels the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/page/files/national_northern_border_counternarcotics_strategy_.pdf">National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy</a> issued in January. It also supports goals outlined in the U.S.-Canada <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/wh/us-canada-btb-action-plan.pdf">Beyond the Border Action Plan</a> which focuses on addressing security threats early, facilitating trade, economic growth and jobs, integrating cross-border law enforcement, as well as improving infrastructure and cyber-security. <a name='more'></a><br />
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Another facet of the perimeter security deal is the U.S.-Canada <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/us-canada_rcc_joint_action_plan3.pdf">Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) Joint Action Plan</a>. It seeks greater regulatory alignment in the areas of agriculture and food, transportation, the environment, health, along with consumer products. In January, government representatives, as well as industry officials held <a href="http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/page/rcc-ccr/stakeholder-sessions-washington-january-30-31-2012">regulatory meetings</a> in Washington. The RCC has now published <a href="http://www.trade.gov/rcc/">work plans</a> in some of the specific areas noting that the rest of them will be posted when they are finalized. The whole process of regulatory reform has received more attention with President Barack Obama signing an Executive Order in early May, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/executive-order-promoting-international-regulatory-cooperation">Promoting International Regulatory Cooperation</a>. This will build on the work already underway by the RCC. In Canada, there are fears that deepening regulatory integration with the U.S. could weaken and erode any independent regulatory capacity, thus threatening its sovereignty. Further harmonization could result in Canada losing control over its ability to regulate food safety. This could also lead to a race to the bottom with respect to other regulatory standards. <br />
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As part of the Beyond the Border agreement, the U.S. and Canada are also working towards an integrated cargo security strategy. In May, they agreed to a new <a href="http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=677789">mutual recognition initiative</a> whereby, “cargo shipped on passenger aircraft will now be screened only once for transportation security reasons, at the point of origin and will not need to be rescreened prior to upload on an aircraft in the other country.” Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy James Nealon proclaimed that, “Through this program, we will be able to move goods between U.S. and Canada faster, more efficiently, and most securely.” A <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120910052303/http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/backgrounders-menu-air-cargo-6725.htm">Transport Canada backgrounder</a> acknowledged that, “Air cargo is just the start. Canada and the U.S. are working together to strengthen co-ordination, co-operation and timely decision-making at the border for cargo shipped by sea or land with a view to increasing two-way trade, and reducing travel and commercial disruptions. When the Action Plan is fully implemented, the principle of ‘screened once, accepted twice’ is intended to apply to all modes of shipping cargo.” In order to keep trade flowing across the northern border, Canada is being pressured to further take on U.S. security priorities. <br />
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Last month, there were a series of U.S.-Canada joint consultation sessions with stakeholders regarding <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/20120514-us-canada-cross-border-issues.shtm">facilitating cross-border business</a>. In addition, Public Safety Canada and the DHS issued the document, <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/cnsdrtns-ntdstts-cnd/cnsdrtns-ntdstts-cnd-eng.pdf">Considerations for United States-Canada Border Traffic Disruption Management</a>. According to a <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/nws/nws-rlss/2012/20120514-eng.aspx">news release</a> it, “fulfils one of the first commitments under the Canada-U.S. Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.” The joint emergency guide, “outlines best practices and identifies critical issues to consider when developing or updating traffic management plans to ensure they are tailored to address regional requirements and individual border crossings.” Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews stated that, “This plan is the result of close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials from the local, state, and provincial/territorial level, to manage the flow of traffic near the border during a disruption.” He went on to say, “Implementation of this guide will help maintain economic stability and ensure that priority traffic moves freely towards and away from the secure Canada-U.S. border during times of crisis.”<br />
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Through various initiatives, NAFTA partners are laying the foundation for a fully integrated North American security perimeter. In the advent of a terrorist attack, disaster or any other perceived threat to the continent, the U.S. could then execute control over the security perimeter. The global elite are not ones to let a serious crisis go to waste. Such a scenario would also provide the perfect cover needed to officially usher in a North American Union.<br />
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Related Articles By Dana Gabriel<br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/05/us-and-canada-quietly-implementing.html">Implementing Beyond the Border Perimeter Security Initiatives</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2012/02/counter-terrorism-and-northern-border.html">Northern Border Drug Strategy Tied to Perimeter Security Deal</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/12/pretext-for-north-american-homeland_11.html">The Pretext for a North American Homeland Security Perimeter</a><br />
<a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/2011/09/us-canada-perimeter-security-and.html">U.S.-Canada Perimeter Security and the Consolidation of North America</a><br />
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Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at <a href="http://beyourownleader.blogspot.ca/">Be Your Own Leader</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com