Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Cross-border business interests call for joint Canada, U.S. post-COVID effort

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 May, 2020 04:56 PM
  • Cross-border business interests call for joint Canada, U.S. post-COVID effort

A prominent cross-border lobby group wants Canada and the United States to join forces for an integrated North American approach to the new post-pandemic global economy.

The Washington-based Canadian American Business Council is building a new campaign to encourage a united economic front as the two countries battle back from the impact of COVID-19.

The goal of the "North American Rebound" campaign, to launch later Thursday, is to promote collaborative efforts to secure personal protective equipment, replenish and maintain medical stockpiles and defend mission-critical cross-border supply chains.

Expanding market opportunities in both countries would speed recovery efforts and better equip both Canada and the U.S. to compete in a dramatically different world economy, the campaign argues.

And while the Trump administration has promoted protectionism throughout the president's first term, the pandemic has fuelled nationalist sentiment in countries around the world, said Scotty Greenwood, the association's long-standing CEO and a veteran of the perpetual battle to represent Canadian interests stateside and U.S. interests in Canada.

"It's not just the U.S.," Greenwood said.

"There's a political tendency — which is understandable, but it doesn't really work — to say, 'We're going to be self sufficient, we're going to reshore everything and we're going to go it alone, we don't want to be dependent on somebody.' When you think about the Canada-U.S. context, it's not efficient, and it's not workable."

Veterans of North America's diplomatic corps, as well as business experts and scholars who specialize in Canada-U.S. matters, have been virtually unanimous over the last two months in their praise for the agreement from mid-March that prohibited discretionary travel between the countries to prevent the spread of the virus without impairing the movement of trade, business and essential workers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed Tuesday that the agreement would remain in place until at least June 21. But as businesses reopen and personal mobility restrictions ease on both sides of the border, talk is turning towards what it will look like when the agreement is finally allowed to lapse.

Greenwood has championed the idea of an "essential commerce traveller" program, based on existing trusted-traveller programs like Nexus and Global Entry, that would cut the risk of border officers using their broad discretion to deny access to people who should be allowed to cross.

The Canada-U.S. relationship isn't strictly a federal affair, Greenwood said — the bulk of the trade and commerce that transits the shared border tends to have the greatest impact at the regional and even local level, which is why the statement has been endorsed by more than 24 business councils, diplomats and community stakeholders on both sides.

"We know from our experience, and we know from what's happening now, that it requires a constant drumbeat reminding policymakers and reminding everybody about how truly integrated we are, and how that's a good thing."

Once it goes live, the campaign will include an online portal on the CABC website that will allow supporters to add their names to the effort.

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts
Vancouver's mayor says community relief measures introduced Thursday by the British Columbia government are not enough to prevent city layoffs and service cuts. Kennedy Stewart said offering municipalities tax-payment delays as well as borrowing and debt initiatives is helpful but won't eliminate financial troubles related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts

Federal inmate dies from COVID-19 complications at prison in Mission, B.C.

An inmate has died from an apparent complication related to COVID-19 at an institution in B.C. that is experiencing the largest outbreak among prisoners in Canada. Correctional Service Canada says it is the first death from the novel coronavirus among federally sentenced inmates in the country.

Federal inmate dies from COVID-19 complications at prison in Mission, B.C.

Relaxing Canada-U.S. border restrictions still a long way off: Trudeau

Relaxing Canada-U.S. border restrictions still a long way off: Trudeau
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to let Donald Trump down gently Thursday, warning that Canada is still a long way from being ready to agree to relax mutual travel restrictions along its border with the United States.  

Relaxing Canada-U.S. border restrictions still a long way off: Trudeau

Ottawa expanding loan program for small businesses hit by COVID-19

OTTAWA - The federal government is expanding a loan program for small- and medium-sized businesses suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and working on a new support for companies having trouble paying rent.

Ottawa expanding loan program for small businesses hit by COVID-19

China delays pandemic warning and 'Canada Together: In Concert'; In The News for April 16

China delays pandemic warning and 'Canada Together: In Concert'; In The News for April 16
Shania Twain performs a medley at the American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Twain, Lady Antebellum, and Luke Combs are among the headliners set to perform from their homes for a five-night broadcast event next week in support of Canada's COVID-19 relief efforts. 

China delays pandemic warning and 'Canada Together: In Concert'; In The News for April 16

Trump hints at easing Canada-U.S. travel limits

President Donald Trump signalled Wednesday that he's prepared to support easing travel restrictions along the Canada-U.S. border sooner rather than later — although the feeling may not be mutual, given the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Canada is "doing well" in its efforts to control the spread of the virus, Trump said during his daily media briefing at the White House.

Trump hints at easing Canada-U.S. travel limits