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US Department of State and Canadian Department of US Department of State and Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Foreign Affairs and International Trade: A Cooperative PartnershipA Cooperative Partnership

US Department of State and Canadian Department of US Department of State and Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Foreign Affairs and International Trade: A Cooperative PartnershipA Cooperative Partnership

Transportation Transportation Border Working Border Working GroupGroupBoston, Boston, MassachusettsMassachusettsApril 14April 14, 2010, 2010

White House Spokesman Gibbs pays tribute to Canadian Olympic hockey success

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United States and Canada are key partners United States and Canada are key partners ● Economically

- More than 60 percent of Canadian exports go to U.S. - Canada is largest export market for the U.S. as a whole and for 35 of the 50 U.S.

states - Transportation and infrastructure issues are key issues for U.S.-Canada trade - Common standards important: recent harmonization of U.S. and Canadian

standards for vehicle emissions helps maintain integrated U.S.-Canadian automobile supply chain while helping environment.

● Politically - United States and Canada are key partners in Afghanistan and have both

played central roles in providing short-term and long-term aid to Haiti for reconstruction

We cooperate in NORAD, the North American Leaders’ Summit, the Organization of American States, G-8 and G-20 and many other organizations.

● Cross-border - U.S. and Canada cooperated particularly well on security, transportation and

travel facilitation issues during recent Vancouver Olympic Games

Top Officials Meet FrequentlyTop Officials Meet Frequently

● Secretary Clinton in Canada for G8 Ministerial March 29, for Haiti Conference February 15; held bilaterals with PM Harper and Minister Cannon on both occasions; Secretary Clinton and Minister Cannon regularly in touch by phone.

● PM Harper met with President in Washington September 15, 2009; President Obama met with Prime Minister Harper in Ottawa in January 2009 and the two have met frequently at international summits.

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Who Handles Canada Policy within the State Department? Who Handles Canada Policy within the State Department?

Within the United States government, the State Department has the lead on all foreign policy issues (USTR leads on trade negotiations). Responsibilities flow from the Secretary down to the geographical bureaus and the individual country/regional offices.

Secretary of State

Under Secretary for Political Affairs

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Office of Canadian Affairs

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Office of Canadian Affairs – what do we do? Office of Canadian Affairs – what do we do?

● Lead within State Department on bilateral issues with Canada ● Negotiate bilateral agreements● Responsible for Presidential Permits for U.S.-Canada cross-

border transportation infrastructure● Work cooperatively with DFAIT and other Canadian agencies to

address issues of mutual concern● Provide guidance to senior U.S. officials on issues related to

Canada.

Who handles U.S. Policy within DFAIT?Who handles U.S. Policy within DFAIT?

Within DFAIT, U.S. Policy is handled on two tracks:

1) Minister of Foreign Affairs: Political Relations

a. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

b. Assistant Deputy Minister of North America

c. United States Relations Division

2) Minister of International Trade: Trade Relations

a. Deputy Minister of International Trade

b. Assistant Deputy Minister of Trade Policy & Negotiations

c. North America Trade Policy Division

Privy Council Office also coordinates U.S. policy, most often through the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Affairs & Security

United States Relations Division – what do we do?United States Relations Division – what do we do?

• Lead the Department of Foreign Affairs on U.S. transboundary policy issues:

1) Border Issues: transportation; security; facilitation

2) Energy & Environment: water/fisheries; energy/climate change; Arctic

3) Foreign & Domestic Policy: ongoing and emerging policy issues

• Negotiate bilateral agreements• Work cooperatively with the State Department and other U.S.

government agencies to address issues of mutual concern• Provide policy guidance on the Canada-U.S. relationship to

senior Canadian officials, both within DFAIT and other government departments

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DFAIT-State: What have we done together (lately) ?DFAIT-State: What have we done together (lately) ?

● With contributions from Public Safety Canada and Department of Homeland Security, negotiated Emergency Management Agreement to better coordinate and cooperate at federal level

● Working toward new agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality● Conducted joint fact-finding tour of rail and marine pre-

inspection sites as prelude to possible negotiations on an agreement to cover these modes

● Helped facilitate Olympic coordination, including U.S. clearance of general aviation flights traveling to Canada for Olympics

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Other Types of CoordinationOther Types of Coordination

Joint: ● Through regular bilateral discussions such as Air Preclearance

Consultative Group and the Emergency Management Group

● Through larger bilateral organizations such as TBWG

US: ● Through NSC-led interagency groups and discussions on

issues involving Canada

Canadian: ● Through PCO-led Deputy Ministers Committee on Border

Management, as well as through other issue-specific working groups and discussions at the official level

US Department of State and Canadian Department of Foreign US Department of State and Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Affairs and International Trade: A Cooperative PartnershipA Cooperative Partnership

US Department of State and Canadian Department of Foreign US Department of State and Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Affairs and International Trade: A Cooperative PartnershipA Cooperative Partnership

Prime Minister Harper and Ambassador Jacobson

settle Olympic beer bet

Contact:

Eleanore Fox

foxem@state.gov

Stéphane Jobin

Stephane.Jobin@international.gc.ca