Canada, U.S. Need Unified Border Security Strategy: Fraser Institute

(Montreal Gazette – Eric Lam, Financial Post)

While relations between Canada and the United States have been strained in recent years, it is in the best interests of both countries to set aside their differences and come up with a unified strategy on border security, the Fraser Institute said Thursday. Alexander Moens, a researcher with the Fraser Institute, warned in a report that a variety of factors including protectionism, border security concerns, and environmental issues have all restricted trade growth between the two countries since 9/11.

"Gaining unimpeded access to the U.S. market for Canadian exports and imports remains Canada's top economic interest," Mr. Moens said in the report. "A security deal between the two countries would make Americans more receptive to increased trade, investment, and tourism in Canada."

On Tuesday, Statistics Canada reported that for the first time, countries other than the United States accounted for a quarter of Canada's exports in 2009. Trade with the United States (exports and imports) accounted for only 63% of Canada's totals last year, compared with 71.1% in 2005. By contrast, exports to China have grown 55% in the past five years.

Read more here and/or the Fraser Institute press release (with links to the report itself) here.