"Deep integration uses security as a Trojan
Horse for the complete surrender of our sovereignty to North American big
business."
U.S., Canada, Mexico to Tighten
Security
By BETH DUFF-BROWN, Associated Press Writer
June 28, 2005, 7:13 AM EDT TORONTO -- The United States, Canada and Mexico pledged Monday to shore up
security by integrating their terrorist watchlists and beefing up joint
protection of borders and bridges.
At the same time, they promised to expand what is already the world's
largest trading partnership by developing a single program to facilitate the
free flow of people and goods across their shared borders.
"We are three countries, three friends living in the same neighborhood, so
we have a common interest in our mutual security and our mutual prosperity,"
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a news conference in Ottawa
after he and his Canadian and Mexican counterparts unveiled their list of
targets and initiatives.
"We want to confront external threats; we want to prevent and respond to
threats to North America and we want to facilitate the flow of traffic across
our borders," Chertoff said. "The more secure our region is, the more our
prosperity will flourish."
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said 300 proposals were under
review to ensure security and the free flow of North American trade and
harmonize the screening of dangerous people or cargo.
"The proposals today will go a long way toward protecting North America,
while maintaining each country's sovereignty," she said.
Monday's session follows the March 23 formation of a Security and
Prosperity Partnership initiative announced by President Bush, Canadian Prime
Minister Paul Martin and Mexican President Vicente Fox after their meeting in
Waco, Texas.
The three leaders, who have sought to improve coordination since the terror
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, asked their top security and trade ministers to
report back within 90 days on initiatives to enhance security and promote the
economic well-being of their citizens.
Some other proposals include:
* Coordinating programs to ensure governments are prepared for large-scale
emergencies or terrorist attacks;
* Joint protection of critical cross-border infrastructure, such as the
Ambassador Bridge that spans the Detroit River and facilitates one-fourth of the
daily $1.4 billion in trade between Canada and the United States;
* Strengthening approaches to maritime and aviation security;
* Establishing a second site for a Canada-U.S. pilot project that would
check cargo and passengers before they cross the border;
* And creating a single, integrated program to allow "trusted travelers"
who frequent the borders to travel quickly by air, land and sea.
The partnership initiative has its detractors, who are concerned that
further integration of North American security and trade will be skewed toward
big business and a threat to Canada's sovereignty.
"Deep integration uses security as a Trojan Horse for the complete
surrender of our sovereignty to North American big business," Peter Julian, a
New Democratic Party member of Parliament, told the House of Commons earlier
this month as he pledged to fight the plan.
On the economic front, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and his
Canadian and Mexican counterparts, David Emerson and Carlos Abascal, said they
would develop a coordinated strategy to combat counterfeiting and piracy by the
end of next year; create more regulatory consistency and further integrate their
automobile and steel industries; and relax rules that will allow for an
additional $25 billion worth of duty free goods.
Gutierrez said the United States, Canada and Mexico have a trading
relationship worth more than $700 billion a year; an increase of 88 percent
between 1993 and 2003.
"So we have a lot of jobs and a lot of prosperity tied to this very
important trading relationship," Gutierrez said, but added: "No market economy
can thrive without safety and security for its people. The threats we face
require seamless cooperation that extends beyond our borders."
Emerson said the three nations must stand as one powerful trading block
against other growing economies. North America accounts for one-third of the
world's gross domestic product and he said investors would continue to look
toward North America only if it is competitive.
"The rest of the world has not been standing still -- far from it," Emerson
said. "A booming China is changing the competitive landscape and causing the
reconfiguration of global supply chains. India is not far behind; the European
Union, despite recent setbacks, will continue to get bigger and stronger."
The White House praised the efforts of the ministers, who said they would
report back to their leaders in the fall.
"Their report represents an important first step in achieving the goals of
the SPP," read a statement from the White House.
* On the Net: Security and Prosperity Partnership of North
America: www.spp.gov.
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