North American Competitiveness Council

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Following the implementation of the [Security and Prosperity Partnership]] of North America (SPP) North American leaders thought that in order to accelerate the progress of this initiative they would need strong private sector support and advice.[1] This would arrive in the form of the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes, “the creation of the NA CC not only provides a voice for the private sector, it also engages them as partners in finding solutions.”[2] In partnership with the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) the NACC was established to co-govern the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.

The NACC is made up of thirty North American corporations, including Lockheed Martin, Procter & Gamble, Chevron, ExxonMobil, General Motors, ManuLife, Suncor Energy Inc., and General Electric who recently entered into the water industry. The many others are listed below.[3] The secretariats of the NACC are the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), the Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad (IMCO), the Council of the Americas and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. [4]

The NACC proposed 51 recommendations for action in three general areas: border crossing facilitation; standards and regulatory cooperation; and energy integration. [5] As Teresa Healy suggests, these recommendations are “Designed to build consensus for amore ambitious plan for the ongoing restructuring of North American. These include calls to build a commons security perimeter; agree to a unified border action plan, including a North American pass with biometric identifiers; expand customs facilities; establish a common tariff; develop a commons energy strategy and a regional alternative to Kyoto; revisit NAFTA to include excluded sectors; develop a common regulatory plan; expand the Temporary Foreign Worker program; increase foreign investment in Mexico’s energy sector; and convene an annual North American summit leaders”[6]

The ambitious, highly politically sensitive and secretive project has three time frames, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “those that can be accomplished immediately, those that can be accomplished before the end of 2008, and those that will require additional time to address, with a goal of completion by 2010.” [7]

The first report of the NACC was presented to Prime Minster Stephen Harper of Canada, President Calderon of Mexico, and President George W. Bush of the US during the North American Leaders’ Summit in Montebello, Quebec in August of 2007.[8] The report was presented in the form of a report card outlining the progress made on 51 previous recommendations for action. The second report was presented to the leaders during the North American Leaders’ Summit in New Orleans where the NACC and the three leaders reviewed progress and made additional recommendations for further action.

Commenting on the objective of the NACC as well as the supposed success and proposed extension of NAFTA the U.S. Chamber of commerce suggests, “The first priority, improving the secure flow of goods and people within North America, is essential to the global competitiveness of enterprises in all three countries. Because production patterns within North America have become so closely integrated, any tightening of the borders between Canada, Mexico, and the United States threatens to erode the North American advantage created by the NAFTA.”<re>U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Enhancing Competitiveness in Canada, Mexico, and the United States: Private-Sector Priorities for the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), p.3, accessed 4 December 2008.</ref>.

Members of the NACC

US Members

Canadian Members

Group Co.]]

Mexico

Mèxico, S.A. de C.V.]]

(CCE)

(CONCAMIN)

Institute]], Chairman, North American Steel Council


References

  1. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), accessed 4 December 2008.
  2. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Frequently Asked Questions, accessed 4 December 2008.
  3. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Frequently Asked Questions, accessed 4 December 2008.
  4. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Frequently Asked Questions, accessed 4 December 2008.
  5. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), accessed 4 December 2008.
  6. ↑ Teresa Healy, The Harper Record, p.13, accessed 4 December 2008.
  7. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), accessed 4 December 2008.
  8. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce, North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), accessed 4 December 2008.
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