Overview of Perimeter Security & Regulatory
Co-operation Programs

On December 7, 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced two trade-enhancing partnerships to make it easier to conduct trade and travel between the two countries and remove unjustified regulations and paperwork that hamper cross-border commerce. Part of the restrictions in trade and travel were in response to the terrorist attacks against the U.S. in September of 2001, while many other regulations are leftover from a time when trade was less important and standards on both sides of the border were less uniform than now.

The U.S.-Canada Beyond the Borders program providing “a shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness” was first announced in February of 2011 with the action plan recently presented. The areas of cooperation include: addressing threats early; trade facilitation; cross-border law enforcement; critical infrastructure and cyber security. Also announced in February was a Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council to “better align our regulatory approaches to protect health, safety and the environment while supporting growth, investment, innovation and market openness.” These two efforts will complement each other.

The two sets of programs look long on bureaucracy, but that has become the new normal with heightened concerns about security. The programs do provide a framework for industries to work within to make the case for more rapid movement of products across the border and less multiple inspections of products. Agriculture and food are seen by the designers of these programs as major beneficiaries.

Under addressing threats early in the Beyond the Borders program, the two countries will conduct joint assessments and audits for plant, animals and food safety systems in third countries. For trade facilitation, a common framework for trusted trader programs will allow applicants to submit one application for multiple programs. Canada will develop a pilot program for processed foods to allow participants to submit transactions data for beyond the border and have expedited clearance processes and lanes at the border. Canada will also explore other product specific pilots for lower inspection rates for industries with good compliance histories. Agencies will develop a “single window” where importers can electronically submit all information for customs and other government regulations.

Read more...
Also in this Series: