NAFTA Ministers Direct Further Efforts on Border Security, Food Safety, IPR

U.S., Canadian and Mexican officials met last week to discuss efforts under the trilateral Security and Prosperity Partnership. A joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting indicated that the officials have directed their appropriate agencies to take the following actions, and to consider innovative ways to advance the priorities indicated, ahead of a NAFTA leaders’ summit in New Orleans April 21-22.

Competitiveness
• continue to implement the strategy to combat piracy and counterfeiting
• build on the Regulatory Cooperation Framework by pursuing collaboration through sectoral initiatives, with an emphasis on the automotive sector

Food and Product Safety
• strengthen cooperation to better identify, assess and manage unsafe food and products before they enter North America
• collaborate to promote the compatibility of the countries’ related regulatory and inspection regimes

Energy and Environment
• develop projects under the newly signed Agreement on Science and Technology
• cooperate on auto fuel efficiency, energy efficiency standards and moving new technologies to the marketplace

Border Security
• strengthen cooperation protocols and create new mechanisms to secure common borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade in the North American region

Emergency Management and Preparedness
• strengthen capacity for emergency management cooperation in the region before, during and after disasters

In addition, the statement said, the three NAFTA partners will explore new avenues of cooperation and convergence to address issues such as arms trafficking, terrorism, money laundering, counterfeiting, trafficking of people and smuggling, and border violence.