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.
On June 5, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the Northern Border Strategy (NBS) aimed at deterring and preventing terrorism, smuggling, trafficking and illegal immigration.
In a press release 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 seeks 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 National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy issued in January. It also supports goals outlined in the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border action
plan 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.
Another facet of the perimeter security deal is the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC)
action plan. 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 regulatory meetings in Washington. The RCC has now published work plans 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, Promoting International Regulatory Cooperation.
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.
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 mutual recognition initiative 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 Transport Canada backgrounder 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.
Last month, there were a series of U.S.-Canada joint consultation sessions with stakeholders regarding facilitating cross-border business.
In addition, Public Safety Canada and the DHS issued the document, Considerations for United States-Canada Border Traffic Disruption Management.
According to a news release 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.”
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.
Dana Gabriel – June 12, 2012 – posted at FromTheTrenchesWorldReport
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