A forum on cross-border trade with Canada was held Friday morning in northern New York. Congressman Bill Owens hosted Canadian and U.S. officials and business interests at Clarkson University for a discussion on trade and cross-border economic strategies.
In February 2011, President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Conservative Stephen Harper signed the Beyond the Border Action Plan. The principles laid out in the initiative state that the U.S. and Canada will “work together in cooperation and partnership to develop (and) implement.....security initiatives to .......accelerate job creation and economic growth through trade facilitation at our borders......”
The agreement says input will be sought from government agencies, the private sector, and citizens on ways to accomplish secure trade at the border. Friday morning, 21st District Democratic Congressman Bill Owens hosted a Canadian Trade Forum at Clarkson University.
Owens adds that he wants people to understand what the agreements are about.
The program included people with technical knowledge about the agreement, and those in business and government dealing with the agreement. Members of the Canadian Parliament and U.S. Embassy officials and members of the business community that conduct cross-border business attended.
A.N. Deringer, based in St. Albans, Vermont, is one of the largest customs brokers in North America. Regulatory Affairs and Consulting Director Bob DeCamp says his life is getting commercial cargo through the border as quickly and safely as possible.
Thousand Islands International Tourism Council Executive Director Gary DeYoung notes that much of cross-border business relates to leisure travel.
Owens is co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus.
