Slow Progress, Frustration Mark SPP Summit

(Embassy – Michelle Collins)

Experts say the North American Security and Prosperity Partnership has become its own worst enemy.

As North American leaders wrapped up the fourth annual Security and Prosperity Partnership leaders’ summit in New Orleans yesterday [Tuesday], concerns over its lack of progress are being raised.

From the business community, in the form of a North American Competitiveness Council report, there was a sense of disappointment in the progress made on priorities, along with a near-urgent call directed at political leaders to strengthen North America’s competitiveness

While the NACC, comprised of representatives from some of the biggest and most powerful companies on the continent, reported that progress has been slow on several of the priorities, such as emergency management, integrating auto sector regulations and the implementation of enhanced driver’s licenses, it described the trilateral framework as essential for all three counties’ economic success.

Despite the frustrations raised, the report concluded by urging a new U.S. administration to continue to seek progress on the SPP priorities and called for cooperation to “turn around public misperceptions” that threaten to make the issue of North American competitiveness largely irrelevant.

In the past couple of weeks leading up the New Orleans summit, the lack of progress being made through this trilateral forum has contributed to a growing debate in Canada about the value of meeting with both the leaders of Mexico and the U.S. to address such a wide range of issues.

While trilateral engagement has its place for discussing common issues such as the environment, the problems of competition, trade and the challenges of the Canada-U.S. border are better suited to bilateral talks, said former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. Allan Gotlieb. With so little achieved on the dozens and dozens of priorities initiated by the SPP, Mr. Gotlieb said, it’s become difficult to bring on any real momentum.

“So admirable as its purpose is, one has to say it’s been quite disappointing in its results,” Mr. Gotlieb said. “Trilateralism should continue, but the Canada-U.S. relationship needs to be reinvigorated by bilaterals, and the flagship for doing that is the prime minister with the president.”

University of Ottawa professor Roland Paris said a lack of momentum for the SPP can be attributed to the lack of an overarching vision, particularly when it comes to the Canada-U.S. relationship.

“Some of the items are useful, the issue of regulatory co-operation, for example,” Mr. Paris said. “But there are larger issues about what the next steps will be for our relations with the U.S. and for North America. Without a vision of a goal to strive toward together, a vision that is driven and articulated by political leaders, this kind of work-a-day agenda is not likely to provide the momentum to move forward.” Read the complete article.