After a two year hiatus, the leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to meet for a trilateral summit. While the push for further North American integration continues incrementally, at this time, it is unlikely that discussions will yield any grand new initiatives that involve the participation of all three NAFTA partners. Instead, the meeting could be used to build off of bilateral discussions already underway. This includes negotiations between the U.S. and Canada on a North American Security perimeter deal designed to accelerate the flow of people and goods across the border.
In an article from several months back, Robert Pastor, who has been a leading proponent of continental integration, emphasized that Obama’s jobs strategy should be a North American one. He explained how the U.S. can expand trade faster by focusing on its neighbours and also pointed out that few Americans realize just how dependent the U.S. is on Canada and Mexico. In order to facilitate this approach, Pastor recommended, “We should eliminate restrictive ‘rules of origin,’ which add a tax as high as the tariff that was eliminated by NAFTA, and combine, rather than duplicate, customs’ forms, personnel and frequent-traveler programs.” He also called on President Obama to, “expand his infrastructure fund to be a North American one, with contributions from all three countries.” Pastor went on to say, “The leaders of each nation should then instruct their transportation ministers to develop a North American plan for transportation and infrastructure that would include another trade corridor from the busiest transit point in Windsor, Ontario, to southern Mexico.” This sounds a lot like plans for a NAFTA superhighway.
In his op-ed, Robert Pastor also stated, “In 2009, the three leaders of North America pledged to meet the next year, but that still hasn’t happened. Obama should invite his counterparts to address the full North American agenda, beginning with a strategy to lift the continent’s economy and then addressing transportation, immigration, education and borders. The goal should be to forge a North American community.” Pastor may have gotten part of his wish as President Barack Obama will host the North American Leaders Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 13, 2011 which will include the participation of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The meeting is expected to focus on economic, energy, environmental and security issues. The setting could also provide an excellent opportunity for the U.S. and Canada to release an action plan that stems from bilateral trade and security perimeter talks that were launched back in February. Both countries could also further discuss the pending Keystone XL oil pipeline which would span from western Canada to Texas. President Obama has now indicated that a final decision on the project may not take place until sometime next year.
While the U.S. and Canada have been busy putting the final touches on the proposed Beyond the Border agreement, a series of unwelcome distractions have caused the initiative to lose some of its momentum. In September, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency draft report recommended the use of fencing and other barriers on the northern border. This ties into an assessment from last year by the Government Accountability Office which warned that only a small portion of the Canadian border was under operational control and even went so far as to claim that it posed a greater threat than the southern border. Although the CBP denied that a fence is being considered at this time, it does reveal that in many ways, the U.S. still thinks in terms of a two border policy with the idea of a security perimeter around the U.S. and another one around North America.
The timing of a number of protectionist measures have also proven to be a stumbling block. First, there was the Buy American provision which is included in Obama’s jobs creation plan. This was followed by the announcement that Canadian travellers will have to pay a $5.50 tax when they enter the U.S. by air or sea. Not to mention the threat of new tariffs on container cargo entering U.S. ports from Canada. The moves prompted Roland Paris to ask in his article, Is There a Problem in Canada-U.S. Relations? He acknowledged that it is, “noteworthy that several of these irritants have appeared at this time, when Canada and the U.S. are negotiating the terms of a new partnership. We are left with unanswered questions: Is the White House still committed to elaborating and pursuing a renewed agenda of bilateral cooperation?” The protectionist actions go against what both countries are supposedly trying to accomplish. They have proved to be a source of contention and reinforce Canada’s perceived weakness when dealing with its American partner.
Read More at Be Your Own Leader By Dana Gabriel, Be Your Own Leader
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FYI – In case you are unaware
On Wednesday, November 9,FEMA, DHS and FCC will conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. This nationwide test will kick off at 2 p.m. EST and run concurrently across all time zones.
This system test is the first of its kind, designed to broadcast a nationwide message to the American public. In the history of the country, nothing like it has been conducted on such a level. As you may be aware, there have been tests in the past, but not of this magnitude encompassing all regions of the nation simultaneously. The three-minute test will run concurrently on all radio and TV band stations exceeding the previous messages broadcast which were anywhere from a 30 second to one-minute message.
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There is great concern in local police and emergency management circles about undue public anxiety over this test. The test message on TV might not indicate that it is just a test. Fear is that the lack of an explanation regarding the message might create panic. Please share this information with your family and friends so they are aware of the test.
For additional information regarding the nationwide EAS test, please view the EAS Test Consumer Fact Sheet at the link below or visit the Federal Communications Websites:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-n... .
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm
And when WE return control of the airwaves, the thoughts you have, will not be your own! You will do as you are told, without hesitation! WE now no longer just control what information you will receive, but WE now contol you! You have entered the Twilight Zone! This will now be your new existence..do not try to escape! You have had many opportunities to take your country back, but you neglected your responsibity by waiting for someone else to do it! It is now too late, and WE own you! Thank you for your patience, while WE put everything in its place..WE really could not have done it, without you allowing everything to slide from one day into the next, without trying to stop it. Your waiting was what WE needed…Thanks again, sincerely yours. your new master!
And speaking of the airwaves, have you noticed how many radio stations are now in Spanish? Almost as many as there are in English.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! I know that I tend to think of Canada as USA North, but I also recognize it as a sovereign nation. In fact, there are two Canadas – French and English – which are a single nation, but with a certain amount of independence between them.
Mexico, on the other hand, is terribly poor, relatively speaking. It is also terribly corrupt. We have enough trouble already with corruption here. We don't want to become more tightly integrated with a society that can't have any serious impact on its own criminal enterprises along the border.
The USA has been built on ideals that make her unique, fragile, and exceptional. We do not want to destory that uniqueness by uniting our nation with any other. In addition, one should note that both Canada and Mexico exhibit much stronger left-wing tendancies than the USA. We should not submit to integrating with any nation more left-wing than our own. Doing so would put an end to our opportunity to take back our government.
American can submit to no man or nation. America is made of free men and women and principles for which our ancestors, and our sons and daughters, have died for. No nation that does not accept our constitution and does not submit to the authority of the people over the government should ever merge with us.
We have Papa Bush to blame for this mess. The public was up in arms about this, and he ignored the American out cry (NAFTA). Let Canada and Mexico go find an inland and play footsies with each other.
NAFTA can go to h@@l.
NAFTA had nothing to do with this, all the jobs went to China, because they are now the new Mexico for slave labor.
When we stand within sight of the collapse of the European Community, how can we possibly consider undertaking a united North American Community? The blood of our forefathers and our children has flowed to keep us free. We can not merge with others who do not hold our heritage as sacred as we do. This nation is exceptional. We can not merge with others who do not accept our rule of law, and our commitment to our constitution. The day we do that will be the beginning of the end of the American civilization.
Love Mexico and Canada. Long past due in combining all 3 countries into one integrated Empire. Legalize all of Mexico's Drugs and the underground TAXED money will pay for most of our new services.
Are you nuts or did you just have a brain fart? What planet do you live on? The Euro Community is falling apart as we blog. Don't you pay attention as to what is going on across the pond?
You know, too much cheese and bread also tend to bind….