Canada and US Cross-Border Business

Canada and United States are initiating a series of joint consultations with business to improve and facilitiate the cross-border business travel.

As outlined in the United States-Canada Beyond the Border Action Plan, announced by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper in December 2011, the proposed joint consultations will focus to:

•  receive comments on the implementation of commitments included in the Action Plan and;
• identify and assess new ways to facilitate cross-border business travel in the short and medium terms.

Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety said, “This Government’s top priority remains jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. These consultations will help improve cross-border trade and bring greater economic benefits to both Canada and the United States.”

Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney said, “Billions of dollars worth of goods and hundreds of thousands of people cross our shared border every day. We want to hear directly from businesses on both sides of the border about how cross-border business travel could improve. We especially want to hear fresh ideas.”

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano  said, “DHS is committed to working with our Canadian partners to facilitate cross-border business, strengthening the economies of both our countries.  Through these joint consultations, we will receive direct feedback from businesses on how we can improve travel and trade at the border.”

Once the consultation process is completed, a report will be distributed among the stakeholders. The report will also be made available on the DHS and Citizenship and Immigration Canada websites.

Tags: Business travel, Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Cross-border business, United States, US Homeland Security