Thread: The U.S., Canada and Mexico seek well-being

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Monday, July 4, 2005


The U.S., Canada and Mexico seek well-being



By Enrique Andrade González



At the end of the 90 days agreed to in Waco, Texas, by the prime minister of Canada and the presidents of Mexico and the U.S., a time to review progress on concrete measures in each of the three countries in order to solidify the joint Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), a declaration by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff stands out. Chertoff said, “our mutual security is our mutual prosperity, as the more secure the area may be the more prosperous it will be.�



That which Luis Ernesto Derbez, Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations, must remember is that the agenda for the trilateral relationship was established more than three years ago, and what is of concern is security in the region. That is what the intelligence resources with large budgets and the best preparation in the world point out, and if this is the case it is because the U.S. showed its vulnerability on September 11, 2001, and because they surely have data indicating it could happen again.



The recent commitments signed in Ottawa represent important steps toward protecting North America against organized crime, and most certainly against terrorist attacks. Too, Ottawa was important as the business partners in the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ratified their hopes for trilateral cooperation in order to succeed in improving prosperity alongside security.



Mexico, as has been the case for 11 years, continues to be the most vulnerable partner. It has the smallest economy, its inhabitants have a much lower per capita income and it has the largest population living in poverty. Its levels of internal and external security are therefore the most exposed to attack, it has fewer resources for protection of its territory than its northern neighbors, and it would appear that its security institutions are being outstripped by organized crime.



One of the commitments made by Mexico’s new Secretary of Government, Carlos Abascal, is to redouble efforts in the fight against organized crime, especially since members of those criminal organizations are threats to become mercenaries of terrorism. In this case, without question measures for trilateral cooperation must be strengthened to efficiently fight those groups.



As of yet the (probably still absent) regional prosperity specifics have not been announced, a subject that is basic insofar as greater prosperity means better security and vice versa. It would be especially beneficial to encourage prosperity in Mexico’s agriculture sector, needed due to a lack of productivity and competitiveness that is key in the struggle against narcotics trafficking as well as illegal immigration.



The commitment to keep criminals from entering the region is certainly important, which means strengthening security at the borders to keep out undesirables. Yet transit between the three countries for desirable persons, goods and services should be facilitated, as the improved security controls must not damage regional trade or impair the exchange of goods and services that have been allowed and regulated by the NAFTA for 11 years.



Regrettably the political ability to raise the subject of illegal immigration, in order to advance regionally on this issue, was not present at the meeting. Canada however does not have this problem to the degree that it exists between Mexico and the U.S., whereas by being a trade partner and part of the region it plays a role. Unfortunately this has not been acknowledged, while in Mexico there has been a lack of political talent to show that the phenomena of migration is not only a security challenge, but too it is a social, cultural, economic and humanitarian problem.



At the appropriate time this trilateral agreement should be elevated to a parallel level with the original NAFTA accord. Thus, once ratified by the legislatures of the signatory nations the security commitments adopted would be no less relevant than those approved for trade and services, this or the trilateral agreement’s legality could be questioned in the future.



It will also be necessary to review the other parallel accords that exist, such as the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, and the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation. In the latter the nations are committed to promoting the prohibition of forced labor, restrictions on child labor, an end to job discrimination, equal pay for men and women, and protection of migratory workers.



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Sounds great, a Trinational agreement to secure our borders...Hey lets just give up our sovereignty and celebrate our freedom for the last time on July 4, 2005.