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... to Canada says that the success of NAFTA may help Canada and the United States help resolve other trade disputes. Essentially, Canada has been a huge beneficiary to NAFTA. It has a trade surplus of $ 60 billion with the United States (Calgary: CBC, 2002). Although areas such as softwood lumber, agricultural commodities, and cultural industries must be all looked at individually, Canada and the U. S.
should examine whether they can resolve trade irritants to the benefit of both parties. Additionally, changes in NAFTA must be met; particularly in the labour market. While Canada has highly skilled professionals who can move freely back and fourth under NAFTA, that is not the case for most workers. Canadian workers see NAFTA with its high productivity low-wage factories, lack of effective unions, and labour standards as an unfair economic "playing field" that can only have negative effects on their jobs and their living standards. They see it as a strenuous process of competitive poverty amongst workers and their communities. The Liberals, who opposed free trade when it was introduced by the Conservatives, and who dismissed as racist opposition demands to tighten border security and refugee laws, have come out with a thundering endorsement of continentals and co-operation with the Americans (Chwialkowska, 2001).
Moreover, it is important to understand that the debate over NAFTA in Canada is less about what might happen in an uncertain future than it is a debate about three years of experience with the Canada-U. S. trade deal. It is not therefore a debate but rather one that centres on the effect free trade has already had. Canada is the United States' largest trading partner. On January 1, 1989, Canada and the United States signed the Canadian-U.
S. Free Trade Agreement. This reflects a new Canadian vision on how to manage its economy and ensure prosperity. In a more general context, the FTA can be seen as a formal recognition of the benefits of globalization and an important but not dramatic commitment to continue policies based on the premise that open international markets lead to a more efficient and productive allocation of resources than the mercantilist alternative (Haynal, 2002). As a result, both Canada and the United States will enjoy greater economic growth, increased trade and investment, greater energy security, more jobs, lower prices, and greater competitiveness at home and abroad than they would without this agreement.
In 1992, the total amount of trade in goods and services was an astounding $ 216 billion. In addition, the nature and extent of Canada-U. S. integration and co-operation has changed in a way previously unimaginable. Its social and economical ties with each other display a larger issue between Canadian and American relations. While the immediate concern is the border, the terrorist attacks of September 11 has opened a series of questions about the challenges and choices Canada faces within a North American economy.
There can be no more important measure than maintaining an open border with the United States. Intellectually, the government found the words to express and defend with passion the importance of North American economic links to the lives of individual Canadians. Politically, it made continental commerce and security the primary drivers of policies around immigration, intelligence, and air safety (Krauss, 2002). The Canadian government recognizes the vital importance of an open Canada- U.
S. border to our economic security. Canada will spend $ 135 million over five years to establish new multi-agency border enforcement teams, in which Canadian customs officials, immigration agents, police and RCMP will work together with their U. S. counterparts (Chwialkowska, 2001).
Canada provides 20 % of United States imports and is the largest foreign market for U. S. goods and services, accounting for 25 % of its exports (Haynal, 2002). The government feared Canada risked losing not just U. S.
investment, but investment from all over the world. If the border became a major problem, there would be no reason to invest in Canada unless Canada suddenly developed significant economic advantages. Meanwhile, the trend was in the opposite direction. Over the past decade, Canada has lost market share, particularly to the United States for foreign investment.
With a slow border, it would be difficult to pitch Canada as the place to invest to serve the North American market (Bauch, 2002). It is crucial that the United States go forward with an aggressive and concise plan and a clear understanding of what advantages exist for Canada. Canadians still widely favour closer economic ties with the United States, but do not want Canada to become more American (Hillmer; Granatstein, 2001). A broad national survey from the Montreal Gazette demonstrated attitudes of Canadians on Canadian and American relations. The survey found that two thirds of Canadians think their social values differ from those of their American neighbours. Most felt that the most valued distinction is Canada's health care system.
Moreover, just over ten per cent wanted Canada to become more like the United States, while nearly ninety per cent stated they either like the current state of difference between the two countries or would like Canada to be even more different (Bauch, 2002). Concluding all on Canadian and American development, it is an asset to have two socio-economic successful countries next to one another - providing that they agree on issues in both of their best interests in the development of the country, its people, and its government. Although the United States is Canada's major trading partner, holds ten times Canadian population, and possesses an enormous military with devastating weaponry, both nations cannot successfully operate properly from all aspects of socio-economic factors without each other. We are sovereign and separate nations, but we are also the closest of neighbours.
Our relations are intertwined and our economies are linked. Their political leaders depend on actions taken not only militarily, but more rather economically. Both countries work and progress in parallel with one another, and should one fall - it will lead to political corruption. Whether Canadian relations with the United States improve or not, these two nations will continue attempt fixing a continental divide.
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Research essay sample on Fixing A Continental Divide Canadian And American Relations
