Smarter Cooperation in Canada-US Relations?

Abstract

Smarter cooperation inCanada-US relations? I N RESPONSE TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS of September 2001 and the heightened attention paid to issues of border security, Canada and the United States drafted the smart border declaration in December 2001.The declaration and its accompanying 30-point action plan called for initiatives to ensure the secure flow of people and goods, secure infrastructure, and co-ordinate enforcement and information-sharing about these objectives.' The smart border declaration was centred on several strategies its drafters hoped would make it a success. It included policy, technical, and bureaucratic cooperation coupled with highlevel political attention, and it was implemented across a defined issue area. By its second anniversary, most of the provisions of the smart Veronica Kitchen is a PhD candidate at Brown Universiy. Earlier versions of this paper were presented to the Association of Canadian Studies conference "9.11: Impact and Consequences for Canada and Canadians"' the International Studies Association Annual Conference; and the Institut d' tudes internationales/ Woodrow Wilson Center conference "Quels choix pour le Canada?! What choices for Canada?" The author would like to thank Peter Andreas andJens Hainmueller for their helpfiul comments on early drafts.i The text of the smart border declaration is accessible at www.whitehouse.gov and status reports are available through FAC'S Canadian-American relations website at www.can-am.gc.ca. The final declaration was signed on 9 September 2002 by President Bush and Prime Minister Chr~tien at a ceremony near the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. INTERNATIONAL JOURNALSummer 2004 2 A good overview of progress on the action plan as well as some caveats about the future is Andre Belelieu, "The Smart Border Process at Two: Losing Momentum?" Hemisphere Focus ii, no. 31, published by the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Securitization of the US–Canada Border in American Political Discourse

“…The Shared Border Accord thus demonstrated increased attention to security concerns at the US–Canada border while continuing to maintain trade and travel priorities held by both countries (Pellerin, 2005: 57). Further commitments to joint efforts at addressing border concerns continued over the years following the Shared Border Accord, including the creation of the Canada–United States Partnership (CUSP), a forum in which co-operation would be emphasized in discussions of border management and efficiency, as announced by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and President Bill Clinton in October 1999 (Government of Canada, 2000; Kitchen, 2004: 708).…”

“…Shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Canada and the United States demonstrated once more a joint commitment to the prioritization of security at their shared border, through the Smart Border Accord, accompanied by a 30-point action plan (Kitchen, 2004; Salter, 2007). According to Andreas, this agreement, signed in December 2001 represents a moment at which it becomes glaringly evident that the United States and Canada were actively engaging in attempts to maintain the facilitation of positive economic activities while emphasizing the border's role as a security barrier.…”

“…According to Andreas, this agreement, signed in December 2001 represents a moment at which it becomes glaringly evident that the United States and Canada were actively engaging in attempts to maintain the facilitation of positive economic activities while emphasizing the border's role as a security barrier. (2005: 458) The focus on creating a “smart” border is illustrated in the adoption of risk management approaches, such as pre-clearance programs like NEXUS and FAST, used to facilitate the movement of known and “safe” travellers across the border, while allowing for increased attention to inspections of higher risk or unknown travellers (Kitchen, 2004: 695; Salter, 2007: 304–05).…”