UNITED STATES, MEXICO, CANADA DELIVER INITIAL SECURITY AND PROSPERITY REPORT

 

OTTAWA , ONTARIO- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and their government counterparts from Mexico and Canada released today the first report of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) that identifies initial results, key themes and initiatives, and workplans that further promote the security and prosperity of North America.

President Bush, President Fox and Prime Minister Martin created the SPP at their March 23 meeting on the Baylor University Campus in Waco, TX. Led at the Ministerial-level, working groups were tasked with an initial report in June and to develop periodic progress reports thereafter. A number of the issues in the SPP report have cross-cutting security and prosperity components.

“Success in the 21 st Century global economy demands regional strategies,” said Secretary Gutierrez. “This report is a blueprint to secure North American leadership in the global economy and makes North America the best place in the world to live and do business.”

“Through the Security and Prosperity Partnership, we are building upon the strong relationships between our countries to further our common security goals and achieve transformational improvements,” said Secretary Chertoff. “Security and prosperity must go hand in hand, and this partnership will bring their true promise to bear.”

Among the security goals identified in the report, all three countries have agreed to establish a single, integrated North American Trusted Traveler Program in less than three years. This program will offer a single application portal and enrolled participants will have access to all trusted traveler dedicated lanes at land, air and sea ports of entry.

Key initiatives identified by the prosperity working groups include the development of a coordinated strategy by 2006 to combat counterfeiting and piracy in North America . In addition, the report addresses common principles for e-commerce, streamlining regulation, simplifying trade flows and more cooperation in making air transportation, energy, steel, automotive manufacturing and other economic sectors more competitive. Agreements have also been reached to enhance cooperation on public health and safety protections related to the safety of consumer goods as well as safe international trade opportunities for certain agricultural products.

The Canadian and Mexican ministers who participated in the release of the report in Ottawa, Ontario include Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, Canadian Minister of Industry David Emerson, Mexico’s Secretary of the Economy Fernando Canales and Mexico’s Secretary of Government Carlos Maria Abascal Caranza.

The report released today also reflects input from stakeholders in the private sector as well as state and local governments in all three countries.

For more information on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, visit www.spp.gov.

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