For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 30, 2004

Common Security, Common Prosperity a New Partnership in North America

Canada and the United States are two great nations bound by a common commitment to protect our citizens, and promote democracy, human rights, prosperity, economic opportunity and the quality of life.

Over the past decade, Canada and the United States, in conjunction with Mexico, have taken important steps to expand economic opportunities in North America. Since September 11, 2001, we have also worked closely to address the threat of terrorism and enhance the security of our citizens while increasing the flow of trade.

Today, Canada and the United States commit to deepening our cooperation in North America and in the world. We will both work bilaterally to address Canada-U.S. priorities and continue our close cooperation with Mexico on issues of trilateral importance.

This New Partnership will set an agenda designed to increase the security, prosperity, and the quality of life of our citizens by:

Reinforcing our joint efforts pursuant to our Smart Borders Accord to secure the safe movement of people and goods within North America, keeping borders open for business but closed to terrorism;

Expanding economic opportunity by making our businesses more competitive in the global market place;

Enhancing our mutual efforts to protect our environment, improve our ability to combat infectious disease, fight crime, and prevent trafficking in humans and illegal drugs.

Security

Canada and the United States will work to ensure the coherence and effectiveness of our North American security arrangements by:

improving the coordination of intelligence-sharing, cross-border law enforcement and counter-terrorism;

taking further steps to secure the Canada-U.S. border while improving the flow of legitimate traffic, through investments in border infrastructure and a land preclearance initiative;

combating human trafficking;

increasing the security of critical infrastructure, including transportation, energy, and communications networks; ensuring the security and integrity of passports issued by each country, consistent with our Consular Understanding of January 13, 2004; and

working towards renewing the NORAD agreement and investigating opportunities for greater cooperation on North American maritime surveillance and maritime defense.

Prosperity

Our objective is to expand economic opportunities and prosperity for all our peoples and the competitiveness of North American business by taking immediate steps to:

pursue joint approaches to partnerships, consensus standards, and smarter regulations that result in greater efficiency and competitiveness, while enhancing the health and safety of our citizens;

accelerate efforts to reduce "rules of origin" costs on goods traded between our countries;

expand technology partnerships that promote the clean and efficient use of energy resources, including initiatives in clean coal, hydrogen, and renewable energy resources.

Quality of Life

Our aim is to improve the quality of life of our citizens by among other things:

building on our joint efforts to achieve clean air and clean water, for example in the Great Lakes region; and

enhancing public health coordination in infectious disease surveillance.

Beyond North America

Our partnership extends beyond North America. Internationally, Canada and the United States are committed to working together to advance democratic values and fundamental human freedoms. In common cause, we will work to:

Counter terrorism;

Prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems;

Build democracy and peace in the Middle East;

Support to populations facing humanitarian crisis;

Help build and protect democratic institutions in troubled states;

Combat the spread of infectious diseases, including HIV-AIDS;

Pursue new approaches to multilateral cooperation and work to improve the effectiveness of multilateral institutions;

Advocate for improved human rights and a global commitment to the rule of law;

Ensure early completion of an ambitious Doha Development Agenda and promote free trade in the Americas.

Canada and the United States recognize that our prosperity, our open societies, and the well-being of our democratic institutions are inextricably linked to our security. Our New Partnership will provide a clear, practical guide to protect our peoples and our way of life as we strengthen our global collaboration in support of our common values.

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